Since 2019 Russia has reportedly been actively building up troops on the border to Ukraine. But the escalation since last week prompted the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to voice its position.
“NATO will continue to support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine,” a NATO spokesman told the German daily Welt. “We remain vigilant and are monitoring the situation closely,” he added. Ekonomi Rusia
Russia’s move implies a desire to end the ceasefire agreement in effect since mid-2020.
In early April, NATO invited 30 of its ambassadors to discuss the latest security situation in the Black Sea region. “The alliance is concerned about massive military activity by Russia in and around Ukraine,” the NATO spokesman added.
Highest level of danger status
The recent build-up of Russian troops prompted the US military’s European Command to raise its danger status to the highest level. Berita politik dan ekonomi Rusia
On March 26, four Ukrainian soldiers were killed by Russian artillery shells into eastern Ukraine. So far this year, 19 Ukrainian soldiers have died in Russian attacks.
Friday (2/4), US President Joe Biden, commented on the Russian military mobilization by declaring support for Ukraine. EU foreign envoy Josep Borell immediately contacted Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba and pledged “solid EU support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Meanwhile, Germany and France, which are working on a peaceful way out of the Ukraine conflict, also voiced the same thing.
Aggression around political developments
The escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine began when Russia reacted aggressively to Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s victory in the April 2019 elections. Just days later, Moscow announced a one million passport program for residents of East Ukraine in the Donbas region controlled by pro-Russian rebels. Politik Rusia
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The move is considered crucial because it puts the population of Ukraine under Russian protection, and crushes chances of restoring Kiev’s sovereignty over the occupied areas. Since then Moscow has begun to build up troops on the border.
The conflict escalated when President Zelenskyy dismantled pro-Russian political networks and media in February. Kiev also froze the assets of politicians thought to support the Kremlin, including Vladimir Putin’s close ally Viktor Medvedchuk. Politik Indonesia
For Zelenskyy, Ukraine does not have many options for ending the war in East Ukraine.
In a tweet to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, he said his party was committed to reforming the defense sector as a condition of becoming a member. “But reforms will not stop Russia from moving,” he wrote.
“NATO is the only way to end the war in Donbas. Ukraine’s membership will be a strong signal against Russia.”