The future recovery of Ukraine will be a very costly process, so preventing the destruction is cheaper than rebuilding it later

This was reported by espreso.tv

According to him, without Ukraine's victory, all efforts to rebuild it as a democratic and sovereign European country will lose their meaning.

"For us, it is important to consider what role NATO can play in rebuilding Ukraine after the war. But, first of all, we have to ensure that Ukraine wins. Because if Ukraine does not win, then there will be nothing to talk about in terms of rebuilding a European and independent Ukraine. So, the most immediate and most important task is to provide Ukraine with military assistance, which is what NATO and its allies are doing now. We need to continue, but we need to make this support more predictable, more meaningful, and more decisive. We are likely to make such a decision at the NATO Summit in July", Stoltenberg said.

The Allied chief assured that the future reconstruction of Ukraine will be a very costly process. In this context, preventing destruction is a cheaper process, so the more the Allies provide to Ukraine to help it defend itself, the less effort its post-war reconstruction will require.

"Any air defense missile we can provide for Ukraine will mean less damage, less destruction, and also less need for reconstruction after the war. We have to be able to help Ukraine win — this is important for the Ukrainians and for us. Every day that this war continues brings more destruction, and more costs and resources will be needed to rebuild it all. But the prerequisite for that recovery is victory", he said.

Stoltenberg added that the sooner Ukraine can win, the sooner this war will end and this will ensure a lasting peace for Ukraine, which will win as a sovereign independent European state.

He emphasized that NATO is already playing an important role in rebuilding Ukraine's defense and security institutions, and Allies will continue this work to ensure that Ukraine can become a full member of the Alliance in the future.

"Interoperability is important so that Ukraine and Allies can work together. This program (of interoperability - ed.) helps them now, but it will help them in the future as they build forces that are fully interoperable and integrated with NATO forces. So these are the things that we have to do in the medium and long term for Ukraine to win", the NATO chief said.

• The Government of Germany does not allow  the idea that the North Atlantic Alliance can participate in the defense of the airspace over Ukraine.