Contents tagged with NATO

  • Estonia prepared to host 5,000 NATO soldiers

    The Estonian Defense Ministry said it was ready to host 5,000 soldiers of NATO Rapid Response Force. If necessary, the Ministry is ready to build new barracks for the permanent deployment of the military to strengthen the eastern flank of the Alliance, said the Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Defense Ministry Kusti Salm, reports the news agency ERR.

    "We clearly see that as part of the deterrence policy, the Baltic region should be strengthened. There are clear plans on how to do this if …

  • Russia threatens to deploy nuclear missiles to Venezuela after failed talks with NATO on security guarantees

    Russia sees no reason to continue security consultations with the United States, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.

    According to Ryabkov, who led the Russian delegation in the Geneva talks, Washington "actually said no" to the key elements of the draft agreements proposed by Moscow in December.

    These are the refusal to expand NATO (including the admission of Georgia and Ukraine to the Alliance), the withdrawal of the bloc's infrastructure to the borders of 1997 and the non- …

  • NATO Secretary General speaks about threat of war after talks with Russia fail

    The second round of negotiations on Russia's security guarantees, which took place on Wednesday in Brussels at the level of the Russia-NATO Council, predictably brought no results.

    NATO rejected Russia’s demands for non-expansion to the east, cancelling the decision to accept Georgia and Ukraine into the Alliance and NATO’S withdrawal to its 1997 borders.

    "Only Ukraine and 30 allies (NATO member countries) can decide when Ukraine can become a member of NATO. No one else. And of course, Russia …

  • Two suspects detained in Latvia for espionage for Russia

    Two people suspected of long-term cooperation with the military intelligence of the Russian Federation were detained in Latvia. They are accused of providing the Russian Special Services with classified information about the Latvian defense sector, the news agencies BNS and LETA reported, citing the Latvian State Security Service (VVD). The names of the detainees have not been published.

    According to the reports, the suspects were detained by the VVD together with the Defence Intelligence and …

  • Ukraine and NATO discuss introduction of ‘painful sanctions’ against Russia

    During the meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council, the parties discussed the introduction of a "painful" package of sanctions against Russia and de-escalation of the situation around Ukraine, said Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration Olga Stefanishyna on Twitter.

    Moscow "threatens us with a new war," but does not make efforts for a peaceful settlement within the framework of the "Minsk" and "Normandy formats," Stefanishyna said. The Deputy Prime Minister …

  • Russia begins large-scale military drills near Ukrainian borders after inconclusive talks with the U.S.

    Russia is launching a new series of military exercises in areas bordering Ukraine after the first round of security consultations with the United States, which ended on Monday and did not lead to concrete results.

    About 3 thousand servicemen in the Voronezh, Belgorod, Bryansk and Smolensk regions will take part in firing drills that started on Tuesday, Interfax reports, citing the press service of the Western Military District.

    About 300 units of equipment, including T-72B3 tanks, and BMP-2 …

  • Russia-US talks in Geneva bring no results

    The first round of U.S.-Russian security consultations, held on Monday in Geneva, ended without concrete results on key issues.

    The United States rejected the demand for non-expansion of NATO and withdrawal of NATO troops to the borders of 1997, while the Russian delegation did not give clear guarantees of the withdrawal of troops from the Ukrainian borders, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said at a briefing after 8 hours of talks.

    Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who …

  • Stoltenberg: there can be no compromises with Russia regarding NATO enlargement

    NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance will not compromise with Russia on the issue of enlargement. According to him, NATO is not ready to abandon its fundamental principles.

    “On Wednesday, Allies will meet with Russia in the NATO-Russia Council. The meeting will focus on the situation in and around Ukraine.And the implications for European security. I also welcome that the United States and Russia will hold talks in Geneva on Monday. And that the OSCE will meet on …

  • Latvia to send weapons to Ukraine

    Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks said that the country will transfer humanitarian cargo to Ukraine, including weapons and military equipment.

    The contents of the shipment were agreed with the Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Mishchenko, reports LSM.lv.

    "We call on our allies in Europe to do the same. Because Ukraine has the right and must be able to defend itself. Ukraine, to a large extent, is taking tensions away from our own borders. From our region. And although Ukraine is not a …

  • NATO convenes emergency meeting as Russia continues amassing troops near Ukrainian borders

    Foreign Ministers of NATO countries will hold an emergency meeting on January 7, the press service of the alliance reported on Tuesday.

    The topic of the talks, which will be held in virtual mode, will be the build-up of the Russian troops near Ukraine and other issues of pan-European security, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said on Twitter.

    The consultation will take place a day after the foreign policy adviser to the German Chancellor Jens Plötner and the diplomatic adviser to the President …