NATO rejects Russia’s demand not to admit Ukraine and Georgia / Article

NATO rejects Russia’s demand that the alliance not admit Ukraine and Georgia

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At a summit in Bucharest in 2008, NATO leaders promised that Ukraine and Georgia would one day be able to join the world’s strongest military alliance.

Russia’s foreign ministry demanded on Friday that NATO break its promise to Ukraine and Georgia and suspend military exercises near Russia’s borders. Moscow stated that meeting these requirements is fundamental to European security.

Russia also wants NATO to guarantee that no country will deploy weapons on its western borders that could jeopardize Russia’s security.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg categorically rejected Russia’s demand to guarantee that Ukraine and Georgia would never become members of the North Atlantic Alliance.

“NATO’s relations with Ukraine will be decided by NATO’s 30 Allies and Ukraine, and no one else,” said Stoltenberg, adding: decide what others can do. ”

Stoltenberg also called on Russia to relax the situation at the border with Ukraine, to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and to resolve regional disputes through diplomacy.

The United States (US) also rejected Russia’s demands.
White House spokeswoman Jena Psaki said it was nothing new because Moscow had previously tried to persuade Ukraine and Georgia not to join NATO.

“And it is their prerogative to express their views and demands. We have our views and we have our concerns about the security situation around the world, including, of course, on the Russian-Ukrainian border. Russia can express its concerns, but we can express our own. Europeans can express their concerns. That is the meaning of dialogue and discussion, “Psaki told reporters.

Russia has deployed more than 100,000 troops to Ukraine’s border, raising fears that Russia could launch a new invasion of its neighborhood.

Western countries have warned Russia that an invasion of Ukraine would cause it enormous political and economic damage.

The new German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden discussed the situation on the Ukrainian border on Friday night.

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner and US Finance Minister Janet Elena have discussed the possibility of imposing new economic sanctions on Russia.

The English city of Liverpool will host a meeting of G7 foreign ministers on Saturday and Sunday, which will also discuss the situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border.

Ahead of the meeting, British Foreign Secretary Lisa Trasa said it was an opportunity to show Western support for Ukraine and warn Russia of the consequences if it attacked a neighboring country.

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