LONDON

Russian President Vladimir Putin underestimated the courage of Ukrainians and the support of their allies, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday.

“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.

“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.”​​​​​​​