NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg makes it clear that Russia’s use of force against Ukraine will have consequences.
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The tense situation at Ukraine’s borders is expected to be a major topic when NATO foreign ministers meet in Riga next week.
Stoltenberg is now asking the Russians to reduce tensions in the area.
– If Russia uses force against Ukraine, then it will have costs. It will have consequences. That is why we continue to ask Russia to de-escalate, he said at a press conference on Friday.
According to the NATO chief, the Russian force build-up in the border areas is unusually large and includes tanks, artillery, armed units, electronic warfare systems and combat forces.
Not military response
This gives cause for deep concern, although it is impossible to say for sure what Russia’s intentions are, warned Stoltenberg, who pointed out that Russia has used military force against Ukraine before.
However, some military response from NATO is highly unlikely. As far as NTB understands, it is first and foremost an opportunity for financial sanctions that lies in the cards when Stoltenberg talks about costs and consequences.
– Ukraine is a NATO partner, but not a NATO member. So our collective defense clause, Article 5, does not apply to Ukraine, Stoltenberg pointed out during Friday’s press conference.
The intelligence chief sounds the alarm
Intelligence chief Nils Andreas Stensønes is also sounding the alarm about Russian force building at the border with Ukraine.
– There are about 100,000 soldiers supported with advanced and heavy weapons, air defense and some coastal defense capabilities located around Ukraine, Stensønes says to TV 2.
– It is so serious that it can, and I emphasize can, lead to a war in Ukraine of a relatively solid scope. It does not have to do that, it depends on what assessments Russia makes as time goes on, he says.
Claims to have uncovered coup plans
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, Ukrainian authorities have unveiled plans for a coup attempt next week involving Russians.
The Ukrainian president did not direct coup charges directly against the Russian authorities. The Moscow government, however, moved quickly and said they had no plans to participate.
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