Skip to content
Edit post

NATO chief Stoltenberg says Russian military buildup continues unabated, as he meets Zelensky in Brussels

by Illia Ponomarenko December 16, 2021 7:21 PM 2 min read
President Volodymyr Zelensky fist bumps NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussles on Dec. 16, 2021. (President's press service)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight.

Become a member Support us just once

Despite all the diplomatic efforts made in the past few weeks, NATO sees no signs that Russia's military buildup next to Ukraine is stopping or slowing down, according to the Alliance's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

On the contrary, Russia's preparation is continuing, the official asserted on Dec. 16 during his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

"This buildup has no justification," Stoltenberg said. "It is provocative, it is destabilizing, and it undermines security in Europe."

The latest security crisis unfolded in November when multiple intelligence reports indicated that Russia's amassing nearly 100,000 troops near Ukraine and in occupied territories. These findings greatly alarmed Kyiv and the West about a potential large-scale military invasion of Ukraine.

In the middle of the buildup, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded from NATO to guarantee that it wouldn't expand eastward and admit Ukraine.

NATO and Western leaders, namely U.S. President Joe Biden, repeatedly called on the Kremlin to de-escalate the tensions and stop threatening war against Ukraine. Multiple Western leaders warned that they would respond with unprecedented economic sanctions.

"Any further aggression against Ukraine will have severe consequences and would carry a high price," Stoltenberg said on Dec. 16.

The alliance still wants to solve the situation diplomatically and invited Russia for talks.

"And at the same time, NATO remains vigilant," Stoltenberg added. "We have stepped up our reconnaissance and intelligence collection. And will continue to monitor the situation very closely. NATO stands with Ukraine."

The alliance will continue providing Ukraine with practical support such as military advising, joint exercises and military equipment, the statement says.

"Ukraine has the right to choose its own security arrangements," Stoltenberg stated. "This is a fundamental principle of European security. And the decision on whether Ukraine can join NATO will be taken by Ukraine and 30 NATO Allies alone."

Zelensky thanked Stoltenberg for the alliance's support, as the two spoke to journalists.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to NATO and personally to Mr. Stoltenberg for his continued support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country within internationally recognized borders," he said.

Zelensky added that the decision on whether Ukraine should join NATO is up to the Ukrainian people.

"Our Euro-Atlantic course remains the same. Support for this course keeps growing in Ukrainian society," Zelensky said.

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight.
Freedom can be costly. Both Ukraine and its journalists are paying a high price for their independence. Support independent journalism in its darkest hour. Support us for as little as $1, and it only takes a minute.
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

4:50 PM

Ukraine, Poland ready to conclude agreement on joint border control.

In the document published following the talks, the parties "confirmed their readiness to conclude an Agreement on providing control at joint border checkpoints and cooperation of control bodies" and, once approved by the European Commission, "to launch logistical data exchange at selected road border crossing points."
Ukraine Daily
News from Ukraine in your inbox
Ukraine news
Please, enter correct email address
11:16 AM

Kuleba begins first trip to India.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he was in the Indian capital New Delhi at the invitation of Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and that the two would "pay specific attention to the peace formula" in their talks.
5:30 AM

Ukrainian POWs faced conditional release from Hungary.

Two Ukrainian prisoners of war, part of a group of 11 handed over to Hungary by Russia in June 2023, said in an interview to Deutsche Welle, that Hungarian representatives imposed conditions preventing their return to Ukraine until the war's end.
3:16 AM

Estonian police arrest citizen who reported for Russian state media.

Estonian police have arrested Svetlana Burceva, an Estonian citizen, for allegedly violating international sanctions having served as a reporter for Russian state sponsored Balt News - an arm of the Kremlin-run Russia Today (RT) news outlet, Estonian publication Eesti Ekspress reported on March 27.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.