“NATO is first and foremost a defense alliance. This means that we must reassure NATO members that they will be defended in any case.
For me, this is resistance, especially to Russia. This means that (NATO Treaty, – ed.) Article 5 works wherever you are – in Southern Europe, Eastern Europe or elsewhere, ”Landberg said before this week’s NATO summit, which was also attended by US President Joe Biden.
According to the Minister, it is necessary to pay attention to the Alliance’s partners – non-NATO countries, such as Ukraine and Sakartvel. He recalled that in 2008 a NATO Membership Action Plan was promised to these countries.
“Scanpix” / ITAR-TASS nuotr./Volodymyras Zelenskis
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“It simply came to our notice then. I believe that the message has been sent to Russia that it does not have a veto over the membership of countries that want to join NATO. Now sometimes it seems that it has to, “G.Gandbergis noted.
He believes that democracies, including the United States, must emphasize that they respect the decisions of individual states on how to move forward. This is very important, not only for Ukraine, but also for Belarus.
Mr Biden said on Monday that Ukraine could only hope to receive a NATO accession action plan if it met certain criteria, such as curbing corruption.
“Maybe Russia also has its own security interests. But it cannot squeeze the free will of the people when they choose the path of democracy, as they did in Belarus, when they choose a pro-European course, as it was in Sakartvele or Ukraine.
Russia does not need to interfere in the choices of citizens of other countries, but now it is doing so, “G. Landsbergis said.
True, in Brussels, Biden said on Monday that Ukraine will be able to expect to receive a NATO accession action plan only if it meets the set criteria – for example, to curb corruption.
Reuters / Photo by Scanpix / Joe Biden in Brussels
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“They still need to get rid of corruption and meet the remaining criteria to be included in the action plan,” Biden said, although NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier that Alliance leaders “reaffirmed their determination to keep NATO’s doors open.” .
True, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Tuesday expressed hope that NATO will provide Kiev with a membership action plan next year.
According to Landsberg, Russia is building a kind of “Belarusian border” in the countries that fall under Moscow’s sphere of influence:
Territories such as South Ossetia and Abkhazia Sakartvele, part of the Donbass in Ukraine are still occupied. Any significant debate must take place after the liberation of the territories, otherwise we would legitimize Russia’s aggressive actions. “
Landsberg also acknowledged that he was not happy that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project would appear to be completed.
“Now the situation in Ukraine is very fragile. When the whole country needs to warm up in the winter and the gas only comes from Russia, Russia will have very big leverage over the Ukrainians and the Ukrainian government. We must reassure Ukraine that it will not be left alone when the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is completed, “the minister said.
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