Outgoing NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen made a trip to Kyiv on Aug. 8 to “call on Russia to step back from the brink. Step back from the border. Do not use peacekeeping as an excuse for war-making.”
The
statement was followed by a news conference at the Ukrainian Crisis Media
Center in which he said that Russia would face “deeper, more profound, tougher
sanctions” from the West if it continues to intervene through military proxies in
Ukraine’s eastern regions. Without detailing what’s ahead, Rasmussen said the new
sanctions contemplated would “hurt the Russian economy.”
Rasmussen
also told journalists that NATO is prepared to deepen its cooperation
immediately with Ukraine in education, training and joint exercises designed to
modernize Ukraine’s armed forces and security services. “We have discussed how
we can step up our military-to-military cooperation,” he said.
With
respect to supplying military equipment to Ukraine, Rasmussen said individual
nations among the 28-nation security alliance can make their own decisions
about helping Ukraine militarily and financially to win its war against
Russian-backed insurgents.
He
also said that NATO “does have all the capabilities needed to ensure effective
protection of all of our allies. I have stressed that the illegal Russian
behavior has created a completely new security situation in Europe and we will
have to adapt to that. Since the end of the Cold War, for more than 20 years, NATO
spent a lot of effort to develop a constructive relationship with Russia.
develop a true strategic partnership with Russia. As we all see, Russia doesn’t
consider NATO as a partner. On the contrary, when you read Russian military
documents and you listen to political leaders in the Kremlin, you realize they
consider NATO an adversary.”
“We
strongly regret that, but we will have to adapt to that,” Rasmussen said. The
situation will prompt NATO “to improve our ability to act swiftly to ensure our
effective participation of all the allies.”
The
adversarial NATO-Russia relationship prompted NATO to suspend cooperation in “addressing
common security challenges” such as Afghanistan, counter-terrorism,
counter-narcotics and piracy.” Such cooperation will remain frozen as long as “Russia
doesn’t comply with the fundamental principles of NATO.”
At
the upcoming NATO summit in Wales on Sept. 4-5, Rasmussen said that “we hope
that we can adopt a joint declaration where we will enhance cooperation between
NATO and Ukraine in the coming years and that will include assessment to build
up the capacity and modernize the Ukrainian armed forces in the security sector.”
The following is NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s statement in Kyiv on Aug. 7:
“Good afternoon.
I have had very good meetings with President Poroshenko and other Ukrainian leaders. My message is very clear: NATO’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine is unwavering.
Our partnership is long-standing. It’s strong. And in response to Russia’s aggression, NATO is working even more closely with Ukraine to reform its armed forces and defence institutions.
NATO stands ready to support Ukraine with advice and assistance.
We are advising Ukraine on defence planning and defence reform and we are ready to intensify this cooperation. We also advise on technology and energy security.
In June, NATO’s foreign ministers decided to establish four trust funds to assist Ukraine.
I discussed with the President how we can best use the trust funds in areas such as command and control, logistics, and re-training of retired military personnel to assist Ukraine in the present situation.
As a sign of our strong support and solidarity, we have decided to hold a special meeting with Ukraine at the upcoming NATO Summit in Wales.
And I look forward to seeing President Poroshenko there.
We will continue to improve the ability of NATO and Ukrainian soldiers to work together.
Together, we are planning more joint exercises, more cooperation and more shared training and education.
I look forward to welcoming the President to the NATO Summit in Wales and to making our partnership even stronger.
It is the right of every country to choose its own foreign policy, without foreign interference. NATO fully respects that right.
But today, Ukraine’s freedom and future are under attack.
Instead of de-escalating the conflict, Russia continues to destabilize Ukraine.
Russia’s support to the separatists continues. It has intensified in scale and sophistication.
The downing of MH17 shows the tragic global consequences of that reckless support. And Russia has massed large forces on the Ukrainian border, to shield the separatists and to use any pretext to intervene even further.
So I call on Russia to step back from the brink. Step back from the border. Do not use peacekeeping as an excuse for war-making.
I urge Russia to follow the genuine path to peace. To stop its support for separatists.
To pull back its troops from Ukraine’s border. And to engage in a sincere dialogue for a peaceful solution.
That is what Ukraine needs. That is what Russia says it wants. And that is what the whole international community is working for.
And with that, I am ready to take your questions.”
