Europe Should Prepare for War With Russia ‘That Could Last Decades’: NATO Chief

Since ‘Russia is gearing its entire economy towards war,’ Europe must also boost its security, he said.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - JULY 11: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L), German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Donald Trump attend the opening ceremony at the 2018 NATO Summit at NATO headquarters on July 11, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. Leaders from NATO member and partner states are meeting for a two-day summit, which is being overshadowed by strong demands by U.S. President Trump for most NATO member countries to spend more on defense. Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images

NATO has to plan for a conflict with Russia since there is “no guarantee” that Moscow will not expand its ongoing war in Ukraine, according to Jens Stoltenberg, the organization’s secretary general.

“NATO is not looking for war with Russia. But we have to prepare ourselves for a confrontation that could last decades,” he said in an interview with German daily Welt am Sonntag on Feb. 10.