The thirty NATO countries have confirmed that they are united against Russian aggression in Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that diplomacy tactics are in danger of failing. “The risk of a new conflict is real,” it sounds.
Member States discussed their strategy ahead of the NATO-Russia Council, which will be held on Wednesday for the first time since 2019 at the Western alliance’s headquarters in Brussels. Western countries have imposed heavy sanctions on Russia since the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula in 2014. In that year, pro-Russian separatists supported by Moscow took control of parts of the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine.
Recently, close to 100,000 Russian soldiers have gathered along the Ukrainian border. That fuels the fear of a raid. According to NATO chief executive Stoltenberg, the build-up continues. “This is accompanied by a threatening discourse from Moscow if Russia’s demands are not met. But they are unacceptable, the risk of a new conflict is real.”
“Get Your Troops Away”
The Kremlin denies having any plans for a raid, but is demanding that Western countries withdraw troops from eastern Europe. Ukraine and other countries close to Russia, such as Sweden and Finland, should also not be allowed to join NATO.
The alliance believes that countries should be able to decide for themselves whether they want to join and will under no circumstances deviate from that, Stoltenberg said. Russia cannot impose restrictions on NATO or create a group of countries that cannot be defended. “We support Ukraine. The price Russia will have to pay for an invasion will be high,” he warned once again.
“Diplomatic solution still possible”
The small Baltic states in particular fear the big neighbour. Latvian minister Edgars Rinkevics spoke of a good consultation. “We are ready to enter into dialogue with Russia, but not at the expense of our values and important principles.”
The United States, NATO and the European Union have repeatedly threatened to invade Moscow with serious consequences. US President Joe Biden recently pledged “resolute” support to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodimir Zelensky if Russia invaded the country. Biden also conveyed that message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “A diplomatic solution with Russia over Ukraine is still possible,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized at a news conference.
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