As alliance foreign ministers meet for a two-day meeting in Latvia’s capital Riga to discuss Moscow’s intentions for assembled troops on the border, NATO and the US warned on Tuesday that Russia will pay a high price for any new military aggression against Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken branded the Russian troop movements ‘unusual’, adding that Washington would be really concerned by any escalatory actions by Moscow.
Briefing his counterparts on Washington’s intelligence relating to the unfolding situation, Blinken noted he’d be consulting closely with NATO allies and partners in the days ahead on possible steps they should take to strengthen the defenses, the resilience, and the capacity of the alliance.
Stressing that their commitment to Baltic security and Article 5 is rock solid, Blinken addressed Eastern European concerns about the security of NATO’s Eastern flank and raised expectations that military support of the countries could be potentially increased.
Reiterating his calls on Moscow to be transparent and to reduce tensions in the region, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also rebuked Russia for its military build-up near the border with Ukraine, calling it unprovoked and unexplained, and hinted at potential sanctions against Moscow which, according to him, could pay a high price if it once again uses force against the independence of Ukraine.
As many times before, Russia defended its right to deploy troops on its own territory as it wishes, stressing it does not threaten anyone and dismissing as inflammatory Ukraine’s suggestions that it is preparing for an attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who addressed a forum in Moscow on Tuesday, pointed that the expansion of NATO military infrastructure in Ukraine is a red line he hopes not to be crossed.
NATO’s so-called battlegroups comprised of around 1200 soldiers, which rotate regularly, are currently in Poland and the three Baltic States.
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