- Russia's economy and military have been significantly depleted as a result of the Ukraine war.Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to launch an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has left Russia "poorer and more isolated than for decades," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg wrote in a new op-ed for Financial Times.Stoltenberg said 2022 has been "a year of dismal failure" for Putin, saying the Russian leader made "two big strategic mistakes when he launched his brutal full-fledged invasion" of Ukraine.Though Ukraine has sought to join NATO for years, it's not a member of the alliance and was not on the formal track to become part of it when Russia invaded.Though Stoltenberg zeroed in on Russia's failures in the war, the NATO chief also emphasized that Ukraine needs ongoing assistance as the invasion continues."