NATO and France again warn Moscow about Ukraine – archyde

PARIS (Reuters) -France, alongside NATO, warned Russia again on Friday about the consequences of military intervention in Ukraine, warning that NATO member countries would not allow such aggression without answer.

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have increased in recent weeks, as the two countries have stepped up military exercises and deployed thousands of soldiers on their shared border, raising fears of armed conflict.

Moscow and Kiev accuse each other of being at the origin of the escalation of tensions in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatist forces control a large part of the territory.

“It is clear to us, I have already said it on several occasions, that any attack on the integrity of Ukraine would inevitably lead to massive strategic consequences”, warned the head of French diplomacy Jean -Yves Le Drian, during a joint press conference with the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, and the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg.

The two French ministers and Jens Stoltenberg reviewed during a meeting at the Quai d’Orsay the priorities, in terms of security and defense, of the French presidency of the European Union, which begins on January 1.

“NATO is united in the face of this situation and it is essential that we continue our exchange of information on the subject,” noted the French foreign minister with regard to Ukraine.

Jens Stoltenberg added, again calling on the Kremlin to “de-escalate, respect the sovereignty, the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

“We need a diplomatic and political solution,” he insisted, recalling the Alliance’s readiness to renew a dialogue with Moscow within the framework of the NATO-Russia Council.

The NATO secretary general considered that the current tensions did not change anything in Ukraine’s plan to join NATO, despite Russian pressure.

NATO REMAINS OPEN TO UKRAINE INTEGRATION

The Alliance put forward in 2008 a prospect of joining the authorities in Minsk, but this offer has since remained a dead letter.

“Ukraine is not a member of NATO, so security guarantees do not apply to Ukraine, but at the same time Ukraine is a partner of NATO. Allies support territorial integrity of Ukraine and provide political and practical support, “said Jens Stoltenberg.

“Nothing has changed regarding Ukraine’s membership, but it is up to Ukraine to decide its path, when and whether to become a member or not,” he added, stressing that ‘It was not for anyone “to interfere with this right”.

A renewed warning to Russia which “is trying to restore its sphere of influence and dictate its conduct to a small country.”

The three interlocutors also insisted on the strategic and operational complementarity of the European Union and NATO with a view to the next Alliance summit, to be held in June 2022 in Madrid, and will aim to review NATO’s strategic concept adopted in 2010, particularly with regard to the rise of Russia and China.

“Too long has prevailed the false idea that these two organizations would be in competition. (…) Those days are over, it is now clear to all that our security environment does not allow sterile institutional quarrels,” said the French Minister of the Armed Forces.

Florence Parly recalled in this context the importance of nuclear deterrence.

“In a deteriorated and unstable strategic context, we need nuclear capacity more than ever to preserve peace, to prevent acts of constraint and to avoid aggression,” she pleaded.

Jens Stoltenberg praised the French posture, deeming that the French nuclear forces “contributed[ai]significantly to the security of the Alliance as a whole.

(Written by Sophie Louet, edited by Blandine Hénault)