The Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, warned, on Tuesday 30 November, that Russia would pay a high price if it attacked Ukraine again. Russian troop movements have been observed for several weeks in the vicinity of Ukraine.
“Any future Russian aggression against Ukraine would come at a high price and have serious political and economic consequences for Russia”, he said after the first day of the NATO Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Riga. The Secretary General explained, for example, that political discussions between the Allies shaped the decisions taken by each individual State. “Economic sanctions and political reactions are part of what was discussed (this Tuesday)”, he explained, adding that measures similar to those taken in 2014 were possible.
Mr Stoltenberg said the Allies were united in their aim to deter further aggressive action by Russia, calling for transparency, de-escalation and the reduction of tensions.
While there was “no certainty about Russia’s intentions”, the situation in and around Ukraine “remains fluid and unpredictable” and there was a “significant and unusual" concentration of forces, which was “unjustified and unexplained”, and accompanied by increased rhetoric and disinformation, Mr Stoltenberg said. Just in case, “we have to prepare for the worst”, he warned.
The Secretary General announced NATO’s continued political and practical support for Ukraine. The Allies provide training, capacity building and military equipment.
He also praised Kiev for its “measured response to continued provocations” by Russia.
Solidarity with the Allies affected by the instrumentalisation of migrants
Furthermore, the ministers discussed the issue of Belarus and the instrumentalisation of migrants. “It is cynical and inhumane and NATO ministers have made it clear that we stand in full solidarity with the Allies affected” (Poland, Lithuania and Latvia), Stoltenberg said. He added that NATO was working closely with the EU to counter this hybrid campaign.
Asked about the announcement of a joint military exercise between Belarus and Russia, the Secretary General recalled that while both countries had the right to exercise their own forces on their own territory, they should be transparent and avoid provocation. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)