Before Christmas, NATO appeals to Russia

Created: 12/23/2021, 04:45 AM

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wants Russia to withdraw from the Ukrainian border.

© Roman Koksarov / Pool AP / dpa

The Russian troop deployment on the border with Ukraine has put NATO on alert.

At Christmas, General Secretary Stoltenberg signals that he is ready to talk.

Brussels - NATO has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to use the upcoming holidays to withdraw his armed forces from the Ukrainian border.

Russia has the opportunity to ensure a peaceful and relaxing Christmas for everyone, said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in an interview with the German Press Agency.

To do this, the country must reduce tensions and withdraw its troops.

Russian troop movement

According to the NATO Secretary General, it is now about tens of thousands of soldiers that Russia has gathered near Ukraine.

"It is a major military build-up and there is no sign of this march stopping or slowing," he said.

The Norwegian left it open as to whether he suspected that the troop movements were primarily an attempt by Russia to extort concessions from NATO on security issues.

"There is uncertainty about Russia's intentions," he said.

Stoltenberg pointed out that Russia had already used violence against Ukraine in the course of the annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.

Russia's demands

In view of the Russian demands for additional security guarantees from NATO, he was ready to talk - but rejected ideas that NATO could, for example, not accept Ukraine.

“We are ready to sit down and talk to Russia in the NATO-Russia Council.

However, we will not compromise on the basic principles, ”he told the dpa.

"We cannot question NATO's right to protect and defend all allies, nor the basic principle that every nation has the right to choose its own path."

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It is also about respecting the sovereignty of smaller nations.

“This idea that a great power like Russia can decide what smaller neighbors can or cannot do is reintroducing that notion of spheres of influence.

That absolutely goes against everything that has ensured peace and stability in Europe since the end of the Cold War. "

When asked whether NATO could react to the tense security situation with an expanded troop presence in the eastern alliance area, Stoltenberg reacted evasively.

"We will continuously check whether we need to adjust our troop presence further," he said.

He wanted to be careful with speculations, as this could lead to further tensions.

The Norwegian did not mention the fact that the military had already taken measures to be better prepared for possible threats against eastern allies.

For example, NATO Commander-in-Chief Tod D. Wolters recently reduced the so-called “notice-to-move” period for the VJTF rapid reaction force.

This means that the soldiers currently have to be ready for a transfer to a crisis area within five days.

Previously the deadline had been seven days.

With regard to the current security situation, Stoltenberg emphasized: "We see no immediate threat to the NATO allies." Dpa