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Russia has lengthy objected to Ukraine’s membership of the Western army alliance. This week’s assembly is stirring up outdated arguments.
As NATO leaders collect in Lithuania the meeting Ukraine, which is dominated by the struggle, and Kiev’s want to hitch the army alliance, has issued a collection of threats to Russia.
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Overseas Ministry, informed Al Jazeera on Tuesday: “Our purpose was to weaken NATO as a result of the USA, Britain and all of NATO aimed to weaken Russia. Simply take a look at their statements over time, they’re our They needed to weaken the nation.
Russian Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that Moscow will take “applicable measures” within the occasion of a “doable NATO growth”, including that his nation will shield its “professional safety pursuits”.
Addressing reporters within the Russian capital on Tuesday, he stated, in feedback carried by the Tass information company, that the Kremlin was struck by the swiftness with which Finland and Sweden deserted their longstanding precept of neutrality to hitch NATO.
Earlier than invading Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russia repeatedly warned the Western army alliance in opposition to making Ukraine a member, saying it didn’t need the alliance on its doorstep.
Whereas there’s broad consensus amongst NATO members to assist Ukraine’s future membership, some states akin to the USA and Germany insist that Kiev’s request can solely be critical after the top of the struggle with Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed an everyday information briefing: “Russia is perceived by them (NATO leaders) as an enemy, an adversary. It’s on this vein that the talk shall be held (in Vilnius).
“We’re monitoring it very rigorously, as a result of a lot of what’s stated shall be topic to detailed evaluation so as to take steps to make sure our personal security.”
On the coronary heart of the two-day NATO summit is the problem of Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine – and learn how to counter it.
Hours earlier than it started, Russia attacked Kiev with Iranian-made martyr drones and air raid sirens sounded within the capital; Ukraine stated it killed all of them.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg stated he hoped the group would “ship a transparent, united and constructive message on Ukraine’s path to membership”, however the feedback weren’t robust sufficient to fulfill Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who claimed He stated it was “silly”. Through which the time to hitch the alliance was not mounted.
US President Joe Biden has stated that Washington and its allies had been discussing sending extra weapons and tools to Ukrainian forces – guarantees that Russia noticed as silly.
By asserting extra assist plans, the USA has signaled its lack of curiosity in negotiations to finish the struggle, Russia’s RIA information company quoted senior diplomat Konstantin Gavrilov as saying.
Gavrilov additionally warned that if the struggle escalated, Europe would face “catastrophic penalties” for the primary time.
Ukraine, with a few of its nation beneath Russian occupation final 12 months, made the daring transfer and formally utilized for NATO membership final September.
“The truth is, Ukraine is already in unity.” Our weapons are the weapons of unity. Our values are what the Alliance believes in … Vilnius ought to affirm all of them,” Zelenskiy stated on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
In the meantime, Russia’s ambassador to the USA, Anatoly Antonov, warned of “probably the most disagreeable final result” of a standoff between Moscow and NATO international locations.
“The selections of the West are creating more and more insurmountable obstacles on the way in which out of the sharpest political and army disaster, fraught with probably the most critical penalties for worldwide safety,” Antonov stated on Monday, as quoted by his embassy on Telegram. has gone
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