Nato admits failure to arm Ukraine before Russia invasion

Jens Stoltenberg, the outgoing head of NATO, acknowledged in a recent interview that the alliance could have taken more proactive measures to arm Ukraine prior to Russia's invasion in 2022. He emphasized that a resolution to the ongoing conflict would ultimately require negotiations. Stoltenberg, who has led NATO since 2014, is set to step down in October, marking a significant transition for the organization amidst ongoing tensions in Eastern Europe. In the context of the war, U.S. President Joe Biden met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss strategic responses to the conflict. Biden dismissed concerns that Ukraine's use of Western-made Storm Shadow missiles against Russian targets would escalate NATO's involvement in the war. He expressed confidence in Ukraine's military capabilities and the challenges faced by Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported that recent incursions into Russian territory had successfully slowed down Russian advances in Ukraine's eastern regions. He noted that Russian troops were concentrated in the Kursk area, with no significant successes reported by Moscow. This highlights the ongoing military dynamics and the resilience of Ukrainian forces in the face of the invasion. Additionally, Romania has begun training its first group of Ukrainian F-16 pilots, indicating a continued commitment from NATO allies to support Ukraine's defense efforts. The situation remains fluid, with both military and diplomatic efforts ongoing as the conflict continues to evolve.