NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to NATO Headquarters to discuss Russia’s military build-up in and around Ukraine.
Their joint press conference was broadcasted on the Facebook page of the President's Office.
The Secretary-General underlined that this build-up has no justification and undermines security in Europe. “We call on Russia to return to diplomacy, to de-escalate and to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.
NATO recognize Russia as the main aggressor.
“The aggressor here is Russia. Is Russia that has used military force against Ukraine. Illegally annexing a part of Ukraine, Crimea, back in 2014 and continued to de-stabilize Eastern Ukraine. And now we see a significant, strong military build-up in and around Ukraine with combat ready troops, with armoured units, with battle tanks, with a lot of advanced equipment that is actually absolutely unjustified and undermining the security of Ukraine, but also the security of Europe,” Stoltenberg claimed.
The Secretary-General stressed that any further aggression against Ukraine will have severe consequences and would carry a high price.
“This build up has no justification. It is provocative. It is destabilising. And it undermines security in Europe. We call on Russia to return to diplomacy. To de-escalate. And to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he stated.
Stoltenberg once again stressed that "any further aggression against Ukraine will have severe consequences. And would carry a high price”.
In addition, Stoltenberg reported that NATO helped to facilitate the procurement of different types of equipment for Ukraine. For instance, anti-drone systems, winter clothing, and many other types of equipment, which is important for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Stoltenberg stressed that dialogue with Russia is important, but for his sake, the West will not compromise on Ukraine.He added that NATO will support Ukraine on the way to joining the Alliance and noted that he sees the potential for cooperation between Ukraine and NATO.
“And we also send a very clear message that we can, we are ready to talk to Russia. We actually believe in dialogue. We believe that dialogue is important especially when times are difficult as they are now. And our invitation to Moscow to meet in the NATO-Russia Council stands, and we are ready to sit down. But we will never compromise on the right of every sovereign nation, as Ukraine, to choose his own path and of the principle that it is for Ukraine and the 30 Allies to decide when Ukraine is ready to join the Alliance,” NATO Secretary-General stated.
“Apostrophe” reminds that Zelensky paid a two-day visit to Brussels. On December 15, he took part in the Eastern Partnership summit and held a series of bilateral meetings with European leaders and heads of European institutions. On December 16, the Ukrainian delegation held talks at NATO headquarters, to discuss the situation regarding the amassing of Russian troops in the occupied territories of Ukraine and along its borders.