Calls Ukraine Conflict A Dangerous Moment Since World War II, Stoltenberg: It Would Be Much Worse If There Was A Russia-NATO War

NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. (Wikimedia Commons/US Secretary of Defense)

JAKARTA - Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg called the war in Ukraine the most dangerous moment for Europe since World War Two, with Russian aggression not allowed to prevail, as reported on Thursday.

To prevent Moscow from succeeding, NATO and its member states may have to continue to support Ukraine with weapons and other aid for a long time, he said.

"It is in our interest that this type of aggressive policy does not work," the former Norwegian prime minister said in a speech in his home country.

"What happened in Ukraine was terrible but it would be much worse if there was a war between Russia and NATO," Stoltenberg said.

Describing what Moscow calls "special military operations" as an attack on the current world order, Stoltenberg said the alliance must prevent war from spreading.

"This is the most dangerous situation in Europe since the Second World War."

"If President (Vladimir) Putin even thinks about doing something similar to a NATO country like he did to Georgia, Moldova, or Ukraine, then all of NATO will get involved immediately," Stoltenberg said.

The war has led formerly non-aligned Finland and Sweden to seek NATO membership, with the request so far ratified by 23 of the 30 member states, including the United States.

"This is not only an attack on Ukraine, an independent democracy with more than 40 million people, it is also an attack on our values and the world order we want," the NATO chief said of the war.