This visit of the NATO Secretary General to Ukraine is already the third since the beginning of the large-scale invasion. It is taking place as the situation at the front raises increasing concerns.
Former Minister of National Defense Audrius Butkevičius pointed out that Mr. Stoltenberg’s visit could be much more significant than it seems at first glance.
For his part, Gintautas Maurics, the founder of the organization “Lukšų vužiri”, who communicates a lot with the Ukrainians themselves, says that they still have so much determination that they are not going to give up, and if there is a shortage of men, the country’s women will go to war.
What does J. Stoltenberg’s visit mean?
NATO Secretary General J. Stoltenberg gave a speech in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Monday, during which he once again confirmed to the parliamentarians that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance, member of parliament Iryna Gerashchenko reported on Facebook.
According to I. Gerashchenko, in his speech the Secretary General focused mainly on the threats posed to the free world by Russia and its partners, especially China. J. Stoltenberg praised the courage of the Ukrainian people and armed forces resisting Russian aggression.
Former Minister of National Defense A. Butkevičius is convinced that J. Stoltenberg’s third visit to Ukraine in a couple of years is a significant message that can mean more than we think.
“J. Stoltenberg is one of the really great friends of Ukraine. I think that we are talking about new aspects of aid for which the Ukrainians must be prepared, which is why a direct visit of the NATO Secretary General was necessary.
We are talking about the possibilities of Ukraine to intensify cooperation with NATO, I am not talking about changing the status. I wouldn’t want to get ahead of the events,” said A. Butkevičius on the “Lietuvos ryto” TV show “Lietuva rytoče”.
According to him, in general, the visit of the NATO Secretary General is a very big event for any country seeking membership in the Alliance.
“I remember when we had the first visit of the Secretary General to Lithuania in 1992, and it meant that the situation is changing, that NATO already has very defined and clear interests in our territory. I feel that this visit means the same thing,” predicted the former Minister of National Defense.
Although it is claimed that the situation at the front is deteriorating, A. Butkevičius also saw positive developments.
“I think the situation is not so bad. Of course, a person who is being shot at feels different than a person who is sitting comfortably and warmly. War is not just on the front line. If Ukrainians retain statehood, they have already won. If they retain their statehood, plus the non-recognition of the seized territories, they have already won twice.
If they retain their statehood, plus they get new European and NATO relations, whatever they are, they have already won. There are many other lines and aspects of this front where the situation is much better than many in Ukraine can even imagine,” he emphasized.
A. Butkevičius drew attention to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to China, which is also extremely significant, as it shows how much effort is being made to cut off China from Russia.
One of the biggest problems, according to him, remains corruption inside Ukraine: “The constant attempt to wage war and make money at the same time is one of the most difficult to control and the most painful parts of this conflict.”
G. Mauricas: if there is a shortage of men, women are determined to fight
G. Mauricas, the founder of the “Lukšų präuri” organization, who regularly visits Ukraine, emphasized that a lot will depend not only on the Ukrainians themselves, but also on the courage of the West.
“The resources are there, the opportunities are there, the knowledge is there, but there is no courage to take it, stand up and give it to that rapist, the killer over the hump, so where do we go?” Ukraine is not keeping up – we are next. Ukrainians have courage, they just need to be given the tools. They will defend, they will defend, they will fight – the spirit of their soldiers is alive, unbreakable, only political will is needed, not speeches, sanctions and something else.
How would you react when your neighbor comes and kills and rapes you? You go, give it to the hump. No, we are trampled on, we have sanctions, we will warn, something else… You call the police, you look for someone who can fix it – you don’t sit on the sidelines and blow your nose,” G. Mauricas criticized on Lietuvos ryto television.
Although he himself mostly communicates with Ukrainians in Kyiv or other areas less affected by the war, their determination to fight has not diminished in the least.
“The fact is, in Eastern Ukraine, just like in Lithuania, you can find people who are “cotton wool”, who say, enough is enough, give up. It is enough for me to read the comments on our Facebook profile. There are all kinds. But the position is quite clear and firm, we will not give up, we will win, give us the tools.
I talk to women who volunteer, help, give dry rations to soldiers, dry them, send borsch. They say – if there is a shortage of men, we will go to war. This is the position of Ukraine. If there is a shortage of men, women will go to war,” said G. Mauricas.
