Assure us, NATO will not expand: Russia on Ukraine Issue, US Offers Diplomatic Solution
_Vinayak Barot
New Delhi: The US Secretary of State warned Russia on the Ukraine issue ahead of the Geneva meeting. State Secretary Antony Blinken said that “Russia still has a chance to go for a diplomatic solution over the Ukraine issue. Otherwise, we are prepared to respond forcefully to further Russian aggression.”
Blinken further specified that the talks will focus on the situation in Ukraine, and will not be diverted from the issue. “Russia gaslighted the world by alleging that Ukraine was behind provocations,” Secretary said.
According to the media report, Russia has deployed troops in a very huge number near the Ukraine border and demanding writing that NATO will not expand further.
Russia claims that the US and NATO did not stick to its previous commitment post-cold war that NATO would not expand eastward. Russia’s draft proposal asks NATO to not make former Soviet republics Ukraine and Georgia members of NATO and not build bases in any region that was part of the former Soviet Union.
However, the Russian Forces in 2014 seized the Crimean peninsula in Ukraine and supported the pro-Russia separatists in the affected region.
The US Secretary compared Russia with ‘Fox’ which attack the henhouse because its occupants somehow pose a threat. It was up to Russia to make sure that the decision in Geneva is Successful. The NATO and EU are concerned with Russia buildup near the Ukraine-Russia border.
Jens Stoltenberg – Chief of NATO said that “The risk of conflict is real. Russia’s aggressive actions seriously undermine the security order in Europe.”
