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Jens Stoltenberg: Putin made strategic mistake of underestimating Ukrainians, NATO

Russian President Vladimir Putin underestimated the courage of Ukrainians and the support of their allies, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday (Nov 9).
“Putin made several huge mistakes when he invaded Ukraine, strategic mistakes. One was to underestimate the Ukrainians, their courage, their commitment to fight and protect … country,” Stoltenberg said after meeting British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Downing Street.
“The other mistake he made was to underestimate NATO allies, partners, in our ability to support Ukraine.”
During his visit to the UK, Stoltenberg will attend a meeting of the NATO Joint Expeditionary Force in Edinburgh.
“If President Putin wins in Ukraine, it will be disastrous for Ukrainians but it also make us more vulnerable; because, then the message … (to) other authoritarian leaders will be that they can get away, achieve their goals by using brutal military force,” he said.

On the announcement of Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson, Stoltenberg said it remains to be seen “what actually happens on the ground.”
He said Russia has been pushed back around Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson, and “it is encouraging to see how the brave Ukrainian forces are able to liberate more Ukrainian territory.”
“The victories, the gains the Ukrainian Armed Forces are making belong to the brave, courageous Ukrainian soldiers,” said Stoltenberg.
NATO chief warns Russia not to 'use false pretexts' for escalation
“But, of course, the support they receive from the United Kingdom, from NATO allies and partners is also essential.”
He hailed the UK for having trained close to 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers.
The NATO secretary general said his meeting with Sunak was “a good meeting and I am confident that I’m [to] continue to count on the United Kingdom as a leading NATO ally.”
Source: aa
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Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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