Europe must be prepared for a decade of Ukranian war, the outgoing secretary general of NATO has warned, writes BBC.

Speaking to the BBC, Jens Stoltenberg said the “paradox” of the war in Ukraine is the longer the western military alliance commits to fighting the war, the faster a resolution will be reached.

Stoltenberg urged European NATO members to boost their commitments amid fears that US funds could be slashed or even stopped if Donald Trump wins a second term as US president in November’s election.

Asked if NATO allies had to be prepared for the conflict in Ukraine going on for more than 10 years, Stoltenberg said: “Yes. But the main message is that the stronger the support for Ukraine and the longer we are willing to commit, the sooner this war can end. The paradox is that now President Putin believes that he can wait us out. So therefore, the war continues. When we communicate very clearly that we are here for long haul, that we have strong enduring support for Ukraine, then we have the conditions for a solution where Ukraine prevails as a sovereign independent state”.