Ambassadors from the military alliance will hold an emergency meeting in the morning to discuss the situation in Eastern Europe.
Without van der Wal/ANP/AFP/23.02.2022NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday condemned Russia’s “irresponsible attack” on Ukraine.
The secretary general of nato, Jens Stoltenbergcondemned this Thursday, 24 the “irresponsible and unprovoked attack” by the Russia The Ukraine and warned that this puts “numerous” lives at risk. “Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against an independent and sovereign country,” Stoltenberg said in a statement. NATO ambassadors will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday morning to discuss the attack, an alliance official said. “We can confirm that the North Atlantic Council (the board of ambassadors) will hold an emergency meeting this morning (Thursday),” the official declared. Stoltenberg will offer a press conference, scheduled for 8:30 am Brasília time, he added.
Stoltenberg described the events as “a serious violation of international law and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security”. “I ask Russia to cease its military actions immediately and respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” He assured that “NATO will do whatever is necessary to protect and defend all its allies”. This statement comes after the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, announced a military operation in Ukraine. Explosions were heard in several cities across the country. Ukraine is not a member of the military alliance of 30 Western countries, but its attempts to become part of it have angered Putin. The Russian president has demanded assurances from NATO and the United States that Ukraine will never be admitted to the alliance and has deployed thousands of troops along the border with that country. Stoltenberg said NATO did not plan to send troops to fight in Ukraine if Russia attacked.
*With information from AFP