Stoltenberg says US will propose new strategy to end Ukraine war

Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who recently left his post, has said that after the USA elects a new president in November, Washington may formulate a new proposal to end the war in Ukraine. He told the Financial Times.

After the US election, there will be a kind of new impetus, a new initiative aimed at achieving specific goals," he said.

He said that the new proposal that the US may formulate does not mean capitulation, but it "may combine advancement on the front and the start of negotiations."

Stoltenberg stressed that the allies ruled out pushing Kiev into dialogue with the enemy.

Ukraine must decide when to negotiate. But we need to create conditions that will allow them to sit down with the Russians at the negotiating table and get something acceptable... situation where they will survive as an independent nation," the former secretary-general specified.

At the same time, he said that he regrets that NATO countries do not provide more support to the Ukrainians.

I think we all have to recognise that we should have given them more weapons before the invasion. And we should have given them more advanced weapons the sooner after the invasion. I take my share of responsibility," the ex-gensec said.

The next US presidential election is scheduled for 5 November.