BEIJING, January 17. /TASS/. NATO's attempts to organize additional deliveries of heavy weapons to Kiev will result in a deadlock and significantly reduce the chances of a peace settlement of the Ukrainian problem, an expert of the Center for Russian Studies at the East China Normal University, (Shanghai) Cui Heng, believes.

"NATO's attitude also brings the parties further and further away from the negotiating table," he told Global Times. "When heavy weapons are funneled to positions in Ukraine, there is likely to be a long-term deadlock for all parties who are in fact involved in the war."

Cui recalled that after a "year of transfusions" to Ukraine NATO's and even the US' weapons stockpiles were at low levels.

In the meantime, "France and Germany, which have the strongest military power in continental Europe, have consistently discounted military aid to Ukraine" so far, he stressed.

"Ukraine has been caught up in a proxy war, and it will be further pushed into the abyss," Cui warns.

As NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said last Sunday, he expected that following the meeting of the contact group on support for Ukraine at the US air base in Ramstein, Germany, on January 20 new weapons supplies to Kiev will be announced. Stoltenberg said they might include the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.