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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg pledged on Tuesday to continue supporting Ukraine in its “sharp war of attrition” against Russia. Ahead of Wednesday’s six-month anniversary of Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, Stoltenberg took part in a virtual forum hosted by Ukraine along with dozens of other world leaders. “Winter is coming and it will be difficult,” Stoltenberg told world leaders. “This is a battle of wills and a battle of logistics.” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg pauses as he delivers a statement to the media before a meeting at the European Parliament in Brussels, April 28. (AP/Olivier Matthys) US WARNS RUSSIA MAY INCREASE SECURITY STRIKES AS UKRAINE INDEPENDENCE DAY APPROACHES The NATO chief said the alliance “must maintain” its support for Ukraine “in the long term” to make sure Kyiv is able to successfully push Russian forces back from its borders. But as world leaders pledge to continue supporting Ukraine militarily and through humanitarian aid, Kyiv is making sure it has international support to restore all of Ukraine’s sovereignty – including the Crimean peninsula. “Everything started with Crimea and will end with Crimea,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told world leaders, citing a jailed Ukrainian activist from Crimea. “It is necessary to liberate Crimea. This will be the revival of world law and order.” DONBAS, UKRAINE – JULY 23: Ukrainian soldiers in a truck on the front line of Donbas Donetsk, (Ukraine), July 23, 2022. (Photo by Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) UKRAINE WARNS RUSSIA INTENDS TO TAKE BACK CRIME Zelensky defended the support of nearly 60 nations and international organizations at Tuesday’s summit, including the presence of some 40 presidents and prime ministers. Although the Ukrainian president applauded the support Kyiv has received since Russia’s invasion in February, he suggested Moscow’s failure to account for its 2014 invasion and subsequent annexation of Crimea is why Ukraine is at war today . Zelensky argued that the only way to ensure security across Europe was to prevent the success of Russia’s military ambitions in Ukraine. Russia relied on its presence in Crimea as a launch pad for its invasion not only to provide logistical support to the southern and eastern parts of the country, but also for tactical targets. Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine – May 09: Ukrainian infantry train on May 09, 2022 near Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine. The infantry soldiers were taught survival scenarios when faced with a Russian tank approaching at close range. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Zelensky said that since the start of the war, about 750 cruise missiles have been fired from the Crimean peninsula at Ukrainian targets. “We have to win the battle against Russian aggression and therefore we have to liberate Crimea from occupation. It will end where it started,” Zelensky said. Caitlin McFall is a reporter for Fox News Digital. She can be reached at [email protected] or @ctlnmcfall on Twitter.