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NATO Prime Minister Jason Stoltenberg called for a NATO-Russian Council (NRC) meeting next month to address the developments in Ukraine.
Stoltenberg said he had contacted Moscow on Sunday and confirmed that he would attend the meeting on January 12. NATO announcement Earlier this month, the NATO Military Council was scheduled to meet in Brussels, Belgium, January 12-13, 2022.
“NATO Secretary-General Jens Stortenberg, in the position of chair of the NATO-Russian Council, has decided to convene a NATO-Russian Council meeting on January 12, 2022. We are in contact with Russia regarding this, “the alliance’s press told the Russian press. TASS on Sunday.
“As the North Atlantic Council revealed in a statement on 16 December on the situation in Ukraine and its surroundings, dialogue with Russia will proceed on a mutually beneficial basis, addressing NATO’s concerns about Russia’s actions and nuclear. It must be based on the principles and foundations of this. It is a document on security in Europe and is conducted in consultation with NATO’s European partners. “
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman told TASS that Moscow has received and is considering NATO’s proposal to convene a board meeting.
“We have already received this proposal. We are considering it,” said a spokesman.
The NATO-Russian Council Established in Rome in 2002 as a “mechanism of consultation, consensus building, cooperation, co-determination and joint action”, due to the conflict in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and the Ukrainian army. , Currently not active.
NATO has accused Russia of the 2014 Crimean Crisis as a serious violation of international law from Ukraine, an integral part of the country’s territory. The organization urged Moscow to respect its neighbor’s territorial sovereignty. Ukraine declared national sovereignty on July 16, 1990.
However, tensions have increased over Ukraine in recent weeks. Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly gathered more than 100,000 soldiers near the border shared by the two countries and is concerned about the possibility of aggression. Russia has repeatedly denied criticism.
last week, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs releases document This includes requests made to the United States and NATO, such as effectively refusing to join Ukraine and other former Soviet countries, and reducing military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.
According to TASS, Putin’s proposal calls on the United States to “take steps to prevent further eastern expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and refuse to join the alliance with the former Soviet Union.” ..
The proposal also calls for the United States to refrain from building military bases in former Soviet countries that are not NATO members or using their infrastructure for military operations. If the proposal is met, Moscow will refrain from deploying troops and weapons to areas where such deployments may be considered a threat to Washington’s security, except for deployments to its territory, according to TASS. It states.
“Parties have decided to fly heavy bombers equipped with nuclear or non-nuclear weapons and to deploy surface ships in areas outside their territorial airspace and waters, including the framework of international organizations, military alliances or coalitions, respectively. You have to refrain from where they can attack targets in your opponent’s territory. “
NATO and Washington have expressed strong opposition to the proposal.Foundation for Defense of Democracies Said on December 22nd Putin said, “We are trying to revive the Cold War by redrawing the borders of Europe.”
However, US officials say they are open to bilateral talks.
But if President Vladimir Putin last week rejected Russia’s pledge that Western nations would continue to pursue “aggressive” policies and prevent NATO and the eastern expansion of the alliance, Moscow would “appropriate military and technological”. He said he was ready to take action.
“We do not require special exclusive conditions … and if our Western colleagues continue on an apparently offensive route, we will take appropriate military and technical measures accordingly.” rice field.
“We respond firmly to unfriendly measures, and I would like to emphasize that we have the full right to do this,” he added.
Lorenz Duchamps and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Katabella Roberts is a reporter currently based in Turkey. She focuses primarily on the United States and covers the news and business of The Epoch Times.
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