MANHATTAN (VG) At the border, at least 100,000 Russian soldiers are ready to attack Ukraine “at any time”. At the same time, Sweden has introduced extra security on Gotland. – I am very worried, says Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt.
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– It is very serious because they have the ability and willingness to attack Ukraine, so it is a very pressured situation, says Huitfeldt inside Norway’s UN delegation in Manhattan in New York.
On Tuesday, the news came from the White House that Russia “anytime” may attack Ukraine.
The dramatic situation at the border was thus further exacerbated, and the world is now holding its breath while trying talks between the West and Russia are constantly going by without results.
– I am very worried, says the Foreign Minister and adds:
– We see that they can attack if they want to do so, and there is a threat hanging over Ukraine. We stand behind them, and show solidarity.
Also read: Inside the Ukrainian defense: – It is Russia that should be afraid of us
–– Will come with a price
The Secretary of State is in these days in New York to chair meetings of the UN Security Council, where Norway holds the presidency in January.
– How will Norway react to a possible attack?
– It is important that we stand together with allies, it will come with a price with strong political and economic sanctions, Huitfeldt says.
On Tuesday, it was also announced that Sweden’s Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson, is arming and increasing preparedness as a result of the dramatic situation at the border.
This week, pictures of military vehicles were also published driving around Gotland.
– We talk to the Swedes and the Finns, says Huitfeldt.
– Even though they are not members of NATO, they are very opposed to an agreement being made that prevents them from joining. They believe that it is their decision, and that this should not be decided by others.
Also read: Enlist as a soldier in Ukraine: Ready for war for the sake of the children
“One for all, all for one”
Norway also shares a border with Russia. If the Russians go so far as to invade Ukraine, does that mean that Norway should take further security measures?
When asked whether it would be relevant for Norway to strengthen security in the north, Huitfeldt refers to the Minister of Defense – but says on a general basis that Norway has been working for several years to increase its presence in the north.
What separates Norway from our two neighboring countries, Sweden and Finland, is that we are a member of NATO. The International Defense Alliance is built on the principle of “one for all, all for one”, enshrined in the most famous of the Atlantic Treaty’s 14 articles, Article 5.
US Secretary of State to Kiev
But now international diplomacy is working hard to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Norway has been clear that it wants Russia back on the negotiating table.
– The positive thing now is that there will be meetings, and that was what we wanted from NATO, Huitfeldt confirms.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Kiev on Wednesday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
According to the plan, he will also meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva in an attempt to find a diplomatic solution to the tense situation between Ukraine and Russia, writes NTB.
–Fear of double attack
Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Aleksandr Fomin on Tuesday informed NATO and foreign diplomats that Russia will participate in a joint military exercise with the Belarusian defense next month, writes NTB.
Ukrainian spokesmen fear that Russia is in fact planning to attack the country from two fronts, a concern shared by the United States.
– The fact that we see such a transfer to Belarus, clearly gives Russia another opportunity if they should decide to go to further military actions against Ukraine, says an anonymous US official, according to NTB.
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