NATO deplores Russia's actions, offers no hard response
3/2/2014 11:02:03 PM
Russia's seizure of Crimea is a threat to peace in Europe and the situation must be "de-escalated", NATO's secretary-general said on Sunday, but the alliance failed to agree any major steps to rein in Russia during emergency talks in Brussels.
Speaking before chairing a meeting of ambassadors from the 28 NATO member states, known as the North Atlantic Council, Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned that Russia's actions were unacceptable and could destabilise the continent.
"What Russia is doing now in Ukraine violates the principles of the United Nations charter," Rasmussen told reporters.
"It threatens peace and security in Europe. Russia must stop its military activities and its threats."
After the talks, NATO called on Russia to send troops back to bases and refrain from interference elsewhere in Ukraine.
But despite expressing "grave concern", NATO didn't agree any significant measures to apply pressure to Russia, with the West struggling to come up with a forthright response that does not risk pushing the region closer to military conflict.
Rasmussen said only that Russia and Ukraine should submit to international mediation and said NATO members could hold further meetings on the issue, including with Russia. There was no mention of scaling back any cooperation with Moscow.
"NATO allies will continue to support Ukrainian sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and the right of the Ukrainian people to determine their own future, without outside interference," Rasmussen said.
Speaking before chairing a meeting of ambassadors from the 28 NATO member states, known as the North Atlantic Council, Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned that Russia's actions were unacceptable and could destabilise the continent.
"What Russia is doing now in Ukraine violates the principles of the United Nations charter," Rasmussen told reporters.
"It threatens peace and security in Europe. Russia must stop its military activities and its threats."
After the talks, NATO called on Russia to send troops back to bases and refrain from interference elsewhere in Ukraine.
But despite expressing "grave concern", NATO didn't agree any significant measures to apply pressure to Russia, with the West struggling to come up with a forthright response that does not risk pushing the region closer to military conflict.
Rasmussen said only that Russia and Ukraine should submit to international mediation and said NATO members could hold further meetings on the issue, including with Russia. There was no mention of scaling back any cooperation with Moscow.
"NATO allies will continue to support Ukrainian sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and the right of the Ukrainian people to determine their own future, without outside interference," Rasmussen said.