Nato ‘will not back down’

Nato is determined to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia for ‘‘as long as it takes’’, and will help the war-racked country transform its armed forces into a modern army up to Western standards, the alliance’s SecretaryGeneral Jens Stoltenberg says. Speaking yesterday ahead of a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Romania next week, Stoltenberg supported countries that wanted to keep providing air defence systems and other weapons to Ukraine. ‘‘We will not back down,’’ the former Norwegian prime minister said. He said members of the 30-nation alliance had been delivering fuel, generators, medical supplies, winter equipment and drone jamming devices, but more would be needed as winter closed in, particularly as Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.