NATO chief warns Moscow of consequences of invading Ukraine

30.11.2021 09:51

Ukrinform

Moscow would face tangible consequences, particularly in the economic and political spheres, if Moscow dares to take new aggressive action against Ukraine.

This was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in an interview with Euractiv, Ukrinform reports.

There are reasons for concern about Russia's military buildup near Ukraine’s borders, but there should be no doubt about NATO's determination to "defend all allies in the region," the NATO secretary general said.

“We are sending a clear message to Russia that there will be consequences if they use military force against Ukraine again,” Stoltenberg said in the interview.

However, asked what NATO would do if Russia invades Ukraine, Stoltenberg said “the first task is to prevent that from happening.”

Asked what consequences Russia could face if it launched an assault on Ukraine, the NATO secretary general pointed towards economic, financial, and diplomatic means, without further elaborating on any of them.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, The Washington Post wrote citing sources among the U.S. and EU officials that the movement of Russian troops to the border with Ukraine was being recorded. At the same time, "unusual movement" of equipment and military in Russia’s western regions was noted, which is reminiscent of the developments of April 2021 which caused a stir in the international community.

Later, Politico published imagery taken by a commercial satellite, in confirmation of the previous publication by The Washington Post.

On November 21, Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, told Military Times that Russia had amassed more than 92,000 troops near Ukraine's borders and was preparing for an offensive that could be launched in late January-early February 2022.

On November 25, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, said there was no imminent threat of a Russian large-scale invasion, although the situation could change.

During a press marathon on November 26, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine stated that the possibility of a military escalation by Russia remains, while Ukraine is fully prepared for any developments.