North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Chief: Russian Federation Must Withdraw …
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday an ebb in violence in eastern Ukraine was not enough to bring peace and demanded Russian Federation withdraw heavy weapons the alliance accuses it of providing in support of separatists.
The president’s office reported that Stoltenberg’s visit, which comes on Poroshenko’s invitation, is planned to coincide with the signing of a new document which will increase the status of NATO’s delegation in the country to that of a diplomatic one.
On Tuesday the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation chief plans to attend a meeting of Ukraine’s national security council.
The fighting was preceded by Russia’s March 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula.
Kyiv sees Moscow’s manoeuvring as revenge for its decisive shift towards the West following the ouster of Kremlin-backed president Viktor Yanukovych by mass protests.
“Is Ukraine ready to become a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member?”
Ex-Soviet Ukraine says it wants to join the US-led security bloc but North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has been lukewarm on the proposal.
Flying by helicopter over Ukraine, Stoltenberg stressed what he called the non-military nature of the joint exercises despite excitement among Ukrainian officials and a brass band playing the 1980s hit “The Final Countdown” as activities got under way.
“The truce will last at least until Putin’s trip to the General Assembly”, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Russia continues to support the separatists and provide them with weapons, with different kinds of equipment, with training, with forces“, he said.