West advises on Ukraine war at summit trio: Stoltenberg warns of chemical warfare agents on NATO territory

Created: 03/24/2022, 09:57

By: Cindy Boden

Exactly one month after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, three Western summits are held.

NATO, the EU and the G7 countries are discussing the situation.

News ticker.

• Summits of NATO, the G7 countries and the EU will take place on Thursday

  (see first report)

  .

• Olaf Scholz* phoned Vladimir Putin* again in advance.

• The US ambassador to NATO confirmed planned steps to strengthen the eastern flank

  (see update from March 24, 8:10 a.m.)

  .

• This news ticker is continuously updated.

Update from March 24, 9.45 a.m .:

According to Latvian President Egils Levits, NATO must support Ukraine as comprehensively as possible so that Russia's invasion of the country is not a success.

"In the end, Russia must fail," Levits said on Thursday on the sidelines of a special NATO summit in Brussels.

In addition to supporting Ukraine, NATO must also strengthen its eastern flank.

"I am sure that we will master this task."

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Russia's illegal, brutal invasion of democratic Ukraine was totally unacceptable.

On the role of NATO, he said: "NATO is not just a geographical alliance, but a group of countries that stand together because we believe in democracy and the rule of law, in the defense of human rights."

NATO summit on Ukraine war: Stoltenberg warns Russia against using chemical weapons

Update from March 24, 9:25 a.m .:

At the start of the special summit in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned Russia against the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.

The chemical warfare agents could then also spread to NATO territory, the Norwegian said.

There is always the risk of contamination, of spreading over larger areas.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels.

© Benoit Doppagne/BELGA/dpa

Stoltenberg did not say how NATO would react to such a case.

At the same time, he made it clear that Russia should fear a decisive reaction.

"NATO is always ready (...) to respond to any kind of attack," he said.

Any use of chemical weapons would fundamentally change the nature of the conflict.

It would be a "blatant violation of international law" and would have "far-reaching and serious consequences," he said.

NATO summit on the Ukraine war: Discussions on the medium and long-term deployment of troops

Update from March 24, 8:10 a.m .:

NATO meets for new consultations on the Ukraine war.

In this meeting, the heads of state and government of the NATO countries want to approve the stationing of four more so-called "Battlegroups" in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia in view of the current situation, as the US Ambassador to NATO, Julie Smith, explained .

It is not just about “national units”.

Further details will be shared at the meeting.

In addition, a series of "serious assessments" on the formation of the alliance's troops for the future will be discussed.

"That's going to put us weeks and months into the future," Smith said.

The current focus is increasingly on the medium and long-term deployment of forces on the eastern flank.

"All options are on the table" - including a possible permanent stationing.

She also commented on Poland's proposal for a NATO peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

It is by no means a proposal without a chance.

However, there are “many open-ended questions”.

Allies would want to know more about the proposal.

"We want to encourage that kind of fresh thinking," Smith pointed out.

Nobody backs down or turns around when an ally introduces a new idea to the discussions.

First report:

Brussels - March 24th can be described as a summit day of superlatives.

Heads of state and government are discussing the current situation in Brussels, especially against the background of the escalating Ukraine conflict* at NATO, G7 and EU summits.

It takes place exactly one month to the day after the start of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.

Summit of NATO, EU and G7 countries on the Ukraine war

The meeting of the heads of the European Union* will focus on the situation in Ukraine, how to deal with war refugees and dependence on imports of gas, oil and coal from Russia.

US President Joe Biden* is also expected as a guest at the first session, with whom the transatlantic reaction to Russia's aggression is to be discussed.

Other topics at the summit include the Corona situation and economic issues.

The summit lasts until March 25th.

In addition, the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz invited to the G7 summit.

The heads of state and government of the leading economic powers come together to also discuss the Ukraine war*.

Germany currently chairs the G7, which also includes the USA, France, Great Britain, Italy, Canada and Japan.

Summit meeting of the West: Scholz phoned Putin in advance

Before the many summit meetings, Scholz called Russia's President Vladimir Putin again.

The conversation was about the ongoing negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, the Kremlin announced on Wednesday in Moscow.

Putin outlined a "set of considerations related to the key positions of the Russian Federation."

However, no details were given.

There was initially no comment from the German side.

Meanwhile, NATO is strengthening its eastern flank with four more battlegroups to deter Russia.

As General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg announced on Wednesday, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria are planned as locations for the so-called Battlegroups.