BERLIN (AP)-A senior NATO official said Russia’s military advance in Ukraine was slowing and expressed hope that Kiev (Kyiv) could win the war.
Senior NATO diplomats are meeting in Berlin on Sunday to discuss additional support for Ukraine and the steps Finland, Sweden and others are taking to join the Western alliance in the face of threats from Russia.
“Brutal attack [by] Russia is losing momentum, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana told reporters. “We know that with the courage of the Ukrainian people and army and with our help, Ukraine can win this war.”
Joana, who chaired the meeting as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recovered from the COVID-19 infection, said Ukraine’s supporters were “united, we are strong, we will continue to help Ukraine win this war.”
One of the main issues discussed in Berlin was NATO’s expansion beyond the existing 30 member states.
Finland and Sweden have already taken steps to join the alliance, and despite Moscow’s stern warning of the consequences of its neighbor’s membership in NATO, Georgia’s target is being debated again.
“Finland and Sweden are NATO’s closest partners,” Joana said, adding that she expected the allies to respond positively to their offers, but added that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed serious concerns. . “
“We are definitely following the developments regarding Sweden and Finland, but we do not take a positive view,” Turk, who, like all NATO leaders, has the right to veto the entry of new members into the alliance, said on Friday.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is expected to address the issue to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu this weekend.
“Guesthouse for terrorist organizations” – Turkey opposes Sweden and Finland joining NATO https://t.co/MZ9Ryuj85Q
– Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) May 15, 2022
German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock said her country and other countries made it clear at dinner on Saturday that Finland and Sweden are ready to step up the national ratification process.
“If these two countries decide to join, they can join very quickly,” he said.
The Danish foreign minister has rejected suggestions that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s objections could prevent the alliance from accepting new members.
“Every country in Europe has the fundamental right to choose its own security system,” Jeppe Kofod told reporters.
“Today we see a world where the number one enemy of democracy is Putin and the mentality he represents,” Erdogan said, adding that NATO would also support other countries like Georgia, where he said Russia was “instrumentalized”. .
However, Georgia’s entry into a conditional defense alliance would pose immediate problems, as Georgia is in a de facto frozen conflict with Russia in South Ossetia, where pro-Russian separatists operate. actively active. defense.
“Remember who the real threat to the world is,” a Chinese government spokesperson wrote in a sarcastic infographic titled “US Bombing List: Democracy World Tour,” listing military interventions during the occupation of Ukraine. /7OCryth6ry.
– Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) February 27, 2022
Britain’s chief foreign secretary noted that NATO members will also discuss security issues outside of Europe at their meeting Sunday, pointing to growing concern among democracies about China’s rise.
“In addition to protecting the security of the Euro-Atlantic, we also need to protect the security of the Indo-Pacific region,” said Foreign Minister Liz Truss.
The meeting follows the meeting of foreign ministers from the leading G7 economies this week on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast. Officials voiced their strong support for Ukraine and warned that Russia’s blocking of grain exports from Ukrainian ports could cause a global food crisis.
Global food crisis: Ukraine’s harvest slumped by a quarter, country struggling to export the latest suddenhttps://t.co/4DXfR51Gt8
– Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) 10 May 2022
Source: Breitbart
