NATO chief, British PM meet over Ukraine tensions
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail Xinhua, February 11, 2022
Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), met on Thursday with visiting British Prime Minister Boris Johnson over Russia-Ukraine tensions.
Speaking of Russia's military build-up around Ukraine, Stoltenberg said in a press release that "this is a dangerous moment for European security." He underlined that while NATO is prepared for the worst, it is still committed to finding a political solution.
Stoltenberg revealed that he had written to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterating his invitation to continue the dialogue in a series of meetings in the NATO-Russia Council "to find a diplomatic way forward."
He welcomed Johnson's recent contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the visit of British Foreign Secretary Truss to Moscow. He also welcomed Britain's offer of more troops, ships and planes to NATO.
"This is probably the most dangerous moment. I would say that in the course of the next few days, in what is the biggest security crisis that Europe has faced for decades; we've got to get it right," Johnson told journalists, adding that he doesn't think a decision has yet been taken for "an invasion."
Several Western countries have accused Moscow of having amassed troops near the Ukrainian border, stoking fears of a Russian "invasion."
Moscow denied the accusation, saying that Russia has the right to mobilize troops within its borders to defend its territory as NATO's activities constitute a threat to Russia's border security.
Also on Thursday, Johnson visited Warsaw to discuss military cooperation and the Ukraine issue with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Polish President Andrzej Duda.
During a joint press conference, Morawiecki and Johnson reiterated that both countries affirm their close ties, including in military matters.
On the day of Johnson's visit, 350 British troops landed in Poland to be deployed there as part of an effort to strengthen NATO's eastern flank. They joined the 150 British military engineers who were sent to the country late last year.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)