NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned Thursday after meeting U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington that Western countries should prepare for a "long-term war of attrition" in Ukraine.
"We have to prepare in the long run, Stoltenberg told reporters at the White House. Because what we see is that this war has become a war of attrition."
He also said he discussed with Biden "continued military support for Ukraine," adding, "We must continue to support Ukrainian forces to defend themselves."
"Our goal is to support the Ukrainian leadership to decide on it, and we trust their wisdom. Our goal to help Kiev is to strengthen its position in the negotiations."
"We have to be prepared for any war that will be imposed on us." Russia is suffering great losses in Ukraine, and we must be prepared for a long war of attrition in Ukraine."
Stoltenberg is in the U.S. capital to prepare for the June 28-30 NATO summit in Madrid.
Nato Secretary-General Nato said Wednesday at a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken that the war in Ukraine "could end tomorrow if Russia ends its aggression," but he said, "We don't see any indication in this direction yet."
Blinken said Russia's war on Ukraine would last "several months" further.
Since the start of the Russian military operation, Russian forces have taken control of areas in southern Ukraine, most notably Kherson and part of Zaporgia, and have advanced at a slow pace in Donbass, taking control of the southeastern city of Mariupol.