Ukraine war has deepened divisions in Russia: NATO Chief

Kathmandu: Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), said on Tuesday that the war in Ukraine has deepened divisions in Russia.

Stoltenberg’s comments came after a working dinner with the leaders of several NATO member states in The Hague, days after Wagner forces briefly occupied a strategic command centre for Russia’s Ukraine war and marched on Moscow before turning back, in a rare challenge to its military leadership.

Speaking at a news conference, Stoltenberg also said that it is too early to speculate on the effects of the move of Wagner troops to Belarus, but stressed the alliance is ready to defend itself against any threat. Ukraine’s allies still cannot underestimate Russia and must keep supporting Ukraine, he added.

‘It’s too early to make any final judgment about the consequences of the fact that Prigozhin has moved to Belarus, and that most likely some of his forces will also be located in Belarus,’ Stoltenberg told reporters, ‘But we have sent a clear message to Moscow and Minsk that NATO is there to protect every ally, every inch of NATO territory.’