Jens Stoltenberg spoke after Moscow ordered its troops to withdraw from the key southern city of Kherson, under fire from Ukrainian forces, in a major setback. Russia says ‘ready to negotiate’ – live updates He called the announcement “encouraging” and said it demonstrated how Ukraine’s military, backed by Western weapons, is putting Russian troops under pressure. However, the NATO secretary general said it was too early to draw conclusions about the significance or otherwise of the events in Kherson. “We have to wait and see what is actually going to happen,” Mr Stoltenberg said in an interview on Wednesday during a trip to London where he met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. “It’s part of an overall pattern or picture that we’ve seen over the last few months that Russia has completely lost momentum. They were forced to leave their lands. “But we should not underestimate Russia. They still have the capabilities, they still have the forces, and they also have the forces and capabilities that can hit Ukrainian cities… So it shows that Russia can still do a lot of damage to Ukraine.” Asked about an exclusive Sky News report that Russia allegedly gave Iran captured British and American weapons and cash in exchange for lethal drones to be used against Ukraine, Stoltenberg said he could not confirm the claims. “What I can say is that what we are seeing is that Iran is supporting Russia,” he said. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 1:40 Analysis: Russia’s Kherson Withdrawal “They have delivered these drones and in fact Iran is supporting an illegal war by Russia, a war of aggression against Ukraine.” A security source told Sky News there was concern Iran would seek to turn over Western weapons it received from Russia. Read more: Russia and US ‘discussed nuclear talks’ UK to send heated tents to Ukraine ahead of dangerous winter The NATO chief reiterated that he could not confirm whether this had happened, but said: “Of course, we are concerned when we see totalitarian, authoritarian regimes – like the regime in Iran, which is investing heavily in new missiles and has a nuclear program. – that they are cooperating more and more closely with Russia. “This just underscores the danger of this war.” Mr Stoltenberg said that, at some point, talks would likely be needed to resolve the war in Ukraine. “At some stage, probably, this war will end at the negotiating table. But we know that what Ukraine can achieve around that table is absolutely tied to strength on the battlefield.”
