Ukraine war: We must ‘steel ourselves’ for a long conflict, PM warns, as NATO leader says it could last years

In a personal piece written for a Sunday newspaper, Prime Minister Boris Johnson admits the world must “steel itself” for a protracted war. NATO agrees.

Both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the world needed to dig in and be prepared to offer its support long term.

In a stark interview with Germany’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper, the NATO chief said: “We must prepare for the fact that it could take years.

“We must not let up in supporting Ukraine. Even if the costs are high, not only for military support but also because of rising energy and food prices.”

And Mr Johnson, who visited Kyiv on Friday, made similar comments in a piece for The Sunday Times, writing: “I am afraid that we need to steel ourselves for a long war, as Putin resorts to a campaign of attrition, trying to grind down Ukraine by sheer brutality.

“The UK and our friends must respond by ensuring that Ukraine has the strategic endurance to survive and eventually prevail.”

Describing time as “the vital factor”, Mr Johnson added: “Everything will depend on whether Ukraine can strengthen its ability to defend its soil faster than Russia can renew its capacity to attack.

“Our task is to enlist time on Ukraine’s side.”

This, he wrote, meant ensuring “Ukraine receives weapons, equipment, ammunition and training more rapidly than the invader.”

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Mr Johnson had stressed the need to avoid “Ukraine fatigue”.

He warned: “The worry that we have is that a bit of Ukraine fatigue is starting to set in around the world.

“It is important we show we are with them for the long haul and provide the strategic resilience that they need.”

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES