NATO foreign ministers to hold talks on European security
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In light of the soaring tensions between Kyiv and the West with Moscow over Ukraine, NATO will be holding emergency talks to discuss security.
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The talks will happen via videoconference.
NATO foreign ministers will hold an emergency videoconference on Friday to discuss the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, the alliance said, citing the alleged Russian military buildup on the borders with Ukraine.
"An extraordinary virtual meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers will be held on Friday 7 Jan. They will discuss Russia's military build-up in and around Ukraine and broader European security issues," NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu Tweeted Tuesday.
An extraordinary virtual meeting of #NATO Foreign Ministers will be held on Friday 7 Jan. They will discuss #Russia’s military build-up in & around #Ukraine and broader European security issues.
— Oana Lungescu (@NATOpress) January 4, 2022
🎙️ SecGen @jensstoltenberg press conference around 16.00https://t.co/oGH3SSyzc6 pic.twitter.com/CKTIOiX8Ga
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced Monday he would visit Ukraine's frontline later this week to "show support" for Kyiv in the face of Russia.
Russia is facing US-European allegations of having plans to invade Ukraine, in addition to a military buildup on their shared borders, which they claim amounts to 100,000 Russian troops.
Russia has repeatedly denied the Western allegations of intending to invade its western neighbor, and Moscow's Foreign Intelligence Service accused the US State Department of spreading false information about the alleged troop buildup.
The secretary of the Ukrainian Security and Defense Council said Thursday his country believed there was no immediate threat of a major Russian invasion. Similarly, Kyiv had denied in November Western reports of a Russian military buildup near its eastern border.
Moscow and Washington will hold in-person negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, next month, and both parties said they were ready to listen.
US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed the rising tensions in a phone call on Wednesday.
During the call between Washington and Moscow, Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of severe consequences if Moscow invades Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday in light of the rising tensions.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the US president "made clear" to Zelensky during a phone call that the "United States and its allies and partners will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine."
