The NATO chief said an end to the conflict in Ukraine would be achieved only at the negotiating table. “To end this war, there will have to be again dialogue with Russia at a certain stage. But it has to be based on Ukrainian strength,” he was quoted as saying.
Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister who has been head of the military alliance since 2014, will step down in October and be succeeded by former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
In the interview, Stoltenberg declined to confirm that he would take over as head of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) after leaving NATO. He said he had “many options” and would reside in Oslo. POLITICO reported on Thursday that Stoltenberg will become the new MSC chairman, citing a person familiar with the matter. POLITICO is a media partner of the MSC.