NATO said Wednesday it was preparing for a “major offensive” by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine just a week after Moscow announced it would withdraw its forces from the capital. “We see Russia moving forces from the north to reinforce them, to supply them, to re-arm them and then to move them east, where we expect a major attack,” he said. Jens Stoltenberg told reporters. “President Putin’s goal is to try to control the whole of Donbass and build a bridge.” A resident is looking for items in an apartment building that was destroyed during fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in Borodyanka, Ukraine, on Tuesday. (AP / Vadim Ghirda) RUSSIA INVASES UKRAINE: LIVE UPDATES The NATO leader said security officials had seen no indication that Russian President Vladimir Putin had changed his ambitions to control all of Ukraine, despite Moscow’s claims that it would divert troops in the midst of peace talks with Kyiv. Russian negotiators said last week that the Kremlin would move troops from Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv to “boost mutual trust.” However, after the withdrawal of Russian troops from Bucha, a suburb of Kiev, hundreds of civilians were reported dead on the streets – some appear to have been executed with their hands tied. “We have to be prepared for a long time,” Stoltenberg said ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, including Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. A body with its hands tied with white cloth, which according to residents was shot by Russian soldiers, is on the street in Bukha, Ukraine, on Sunday. (Reuters / Zohra Bensemra) RUSSIAN CEMETERY OPERATES IN MARIOPOLI: “THIS IS THE NEW AUXWITCH”, SAYS THE MAYOR Stoltenberg said NATO would seek to create a “new strategic vision” to strengthen the position of NATO forces in Europe and increase support for Ukraine. The NATO leader called on all member states not only to increase economic sanctions on Moscow, but also to increase the amount of military support provided to Ukraine. “Ukraine is in urgent need of military support. And that is why it is so important for NATO allies to agree to further support Ukraine with many different types of military equipment,” he said. Stoltenberg warned the international community that the war in Ukraine could last for months, if not years. A dog is seen in the middle of a street as Ukrainian army soldiers engage in a military broom to search for possible remnants of Russian troops as they leave villages on the outskirts of Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, April 1, 2022. (AP Photo / Rodrigo Abd )) CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION “Regardless of when the war ends, it has long-term consequences for our security,” he said. “Because we saw the barbarity, we saw the willingness of President Putin to use military force to achieve his goals. “And that has changed the reality of security in Europe for many, many years,” Stoltenberg added.
