“We are deeply concerned about evidence that Russia has made plans for significant aggressive action against Ukraine, both plans that include attempts to destabilize Ukraine from within and large-scale military operations,” Blinken said during a news conference after NATO’s foreign ministerial meeting in Riga on Wednesday.
– We have made it clear to the Kremlin that we intend to respond resolutely, including a number of economic measures that will have major consequences, measures we have refrained from using before, he continued.
– Diplomacy is the only viable way to solve this crisis, stressed Blinken, who also asked Ukraine to show restraint so as not to give Russia a pretext.
Must show responsibility
Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt (Labor Party) also attended the meeting in Riga and, like Blinken, asks Russia to show responsibility.
Russia must show responsibility and lower tensions by reducing its military presence. A possible renewed Russian military intervention in Ukraine will have high political and economic consequences, she said after the meeting.
Ukraine is not a member of NATO, but is a so-called NATO partner. The country’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba attended the meeting in Riga and asked NATO for more support.
Prosecutor
– It is positive that Ukraine’s Foreign Minister gave the NATO meeting a review of the situation, and that they do not want to step up military preparedness measures. It is important that it does not escalate, says Huitfeldt.
Ukrainian leaders have previously accused the Kremlin of planning both coups and invasions, and according to Kuleba, Russia has now stationed 115,000 troops near the border. It has not been confirmed from elsewhere.
Kuleba asks NATO to ensure that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not “choose the worst-case scenario, which is a military operation.”
Russia rejects
Russia has repeatedly denied allegations that it plans to intervene in the neighboring country and accuses Ukraine of “constant provocations aimed at aggravating the situation along the border”.
Russia’s military intelligence last week also warned NATO against relying on claims by Ukrainian leaders and criticized the United States for doing so.
– The Americans paint a horror picture of hordes of Russian tanks that will begin to destroy Ukrainian cities. They claim that they have “reliable information” about such Russian intentions, said a statement from Russia’s military intelligence service SVR, which completely denied that there are such plans or intentions.
(©NTB)
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