President Putin made ‘big mistake’ by invading Ukraine, says NATO chief Stoltenberg

• The NATO leaders to discuss longer-term reset of deterrence and defense 

• He has underestimated the strength and bravery of the Ukrainian people, armed forces, Stoltenberg says 

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that President Putin has made "a big mistake," ahead of an emergency meeting in Brussels.

“President Putin has made a big mistake and that is to launch a war, to wage war, against an independent sovereign nation,” said Stoltenberg. 

“He has underestimated the strength of the Ukrainian people, the bravery of the Ukrainian people and the armed forces, and therefore they're also meeting much more resistance than they expected.”

Read more: Ukraine President Zelenskyy to address NATO Summit in Brussels

The NATO leaders will discuss the need for a longer-term reset of deterrence and defense in today’s meeting.

NATO Secretary-General said, “the first step is the establishment of four new battlegroups in the eastern part of the Alliance in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia.”

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced over 3.5 million residents to evacuate the nation, with hundreds of thousands losing their homes as the war intensifies. 

Read more: Ukraine counterattacks around Kyiv suburb gains headway

Meanwhile, NATO leaders have promised to increase weapons delivery to Ukraine, as well as provide security against Russian chemical and nuclear threats.

Picture credits: CBS News