NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated on Monday that "the coming months will be difficult" for Ukraine, and that "the military capability of Russia should not be underestimated." Stoltenberg mentioned this in The Hague after meeting with the Dutch Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, stating that "the withdrawal of Russian forces from Kherson reflects the tremendous courage of the Ukrainian armed forces, but we must not make the mistake of underestimating Russia." He added, "The Russian armed forces retain significant capabilities and a large number of troops, and Russia has shown its willingness to endure heavy losses," according to Agence France-Presse.
The Russian army, which has been facing difficulties on the ground, has conducted intensive missile and "suicide" drone strikes in recent weeks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, including energy grids. Stoltenberg continued, "The coming months will be challenging. Putin's goal is to leave Ukraine cold and dark this winter."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Kherson on Monday, the main city in the south that was recaptured from the Russians last week. Photos published by presidential office director Andriy Yermak showed the Ukrainian president singing the national anthem with his hand over his heart while the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag was raised near the main administrative building in central Kherson. Zelensky had announced on Sunday evening that "Russian forces committed the same atrocities in the part of Kherson they occupied as they did in other Ukrainian areas they had occupied." Stoltenberg noted that the armed forces "have also displayed extreme brutality."
For its part, the Kremlin emphasized on Monday that Kherson "remains part of Russia." Stoltenberg met with Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra and Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren to discuss the Netherlands' contribution to NATO and the war in Ukraine. Ollongren stated, "Winter is coming... and we must stay the course. If Russia stops fighting tomorrow, the war ends; if Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no such thing as Ukraine."
