NATO issues warning over Ukraine ahead of crisis talks with Russian officials
NATO’s top official again issued a stern warning to Russia on Tuesday, but stopped short of signaling whether the alliance would consider sending military assets into Poland following a meeting focused on concerns that the crisis in Ukraine could somehow spill into its territory.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who also announced that the alliance will meet with Russian officials on Wednesday to discuss the dispute over Ukraine, urged Moscow to respect Ukrainian borders.
“These developments have direct and serious implications for the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic area,” Rasmussen said. “NATO allies stand together in the spirit of strong solidarity in this grave crisis.”
Rasmussen did not say whether Poland or any other member state had formally requested that NATO forces or any other assets be deployed to their territory, following a meeting of the North Atlantic Council, the alliance’s top decision-making body. The meeting followed a request by Poland for consultations under NATO’s Article 4, according to which any ally can demand consultations if it perceived a threat to its security or territorial integrity.
http://www.stripes.com/news/nato-issues-warning-over-ukraine-ahead-of-crisis-talks-with-russian-officials-1.271093
