The tensions between Kiev and Moscow could bring the Atlantic Alliance to strengthen its presence on its side is.
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For one, Russia is currently engaged in “strategic intimidation, something that is above the peace and below the war,” as a European diplomat summarizes. For others, including his Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO must now prepare “at the worst” in Ukraine: “You can discuss the probability of an invasion [Russian] and estimate that it is 20% or 80%, but it does not matter, “he said Tuesday, November 30, to Riga, at the end of the first day of a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Alliance Atlantic.
The United States, on their side, provided their allies detailed information on the magnitude of Russian deployment at the Russian-Ukrainian border and estimated, by the voice of the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, that ” Any Russian action leading to an escalation would be a big concern for Washington.
The formulation did not reassure certain member countries, for which the fact that this meeting is symbolically in Latvia, Russia’s border country, augurred from the announcement of immediate measures in the presence of “tens of thousands Soldiers ready for combat “, as Mr. Stoltenberg says. In Kiev, too, we press NATO to “act quickly” to dissuade Russia. According to Dmyro Kuleba, the head of Ukrainian diplomacy are 115,000 men, with heavy equipment that Moscow would have massaged around Ukraine and Crimea. Wednesday morning, the minister said he hoped that his country would benefit from a “deterrent package”. “By acting in a coordinated way, we will be able to dissuade President Putin and encourage him not to choose the worst scenario that would represent a military operation,” he explained.
“Substantial military support”
What would be the “heavy tribute” paid by Russia if it launched an offensive? The United States and NATO have not detailed on Tuesday, what this formula covered. Prior to the meeting, the Secretary-General evoked “several options” and “heavy financial and economic sanctions but also political”. The consultations had to continue Wednesday, in the presence of the Ukrainian and Georgian delegations, and probably lead to the announcement of a strengthening of the presence of the alliance on its side is. According to Mr. Blinken, it will be, “as an alliance, to take other steps to strengthen our defenses, resistance and capabilities”.
However, the NATO intends to calm Kiev’s expectations by recalling that Ukraine is not a member of the organization and can not benefit from all collective security guarantees. Ukraine should, however, receive “substantial military support”.
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