NATO rejects Russia's request to deny Ukraine entry
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The Secretary-General of NATO says that we cannot accept that Russia is trying to re-establish a system in which the major powers have spheres of influence.
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
On Friday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg rejected Russia's demand that the West revoke Ukraine's offer to join the alliance.
At a joint news conference with Germany's Chancellor, Olaf Scholz Stoltenberg said, "NATO's relationship with Ukraine is going to be decided by the 30 NATO allies and Ukraine -- no one else."
"We cannot accept that Russia is trying to re-establish a system where big powers like Russia have spheres of influence, where they can control or decide what other members can do," Stoltenberg stated.
Russian Statement
Russia's foreign ministry had previously stated that NATO should formally withdraw a 2008 proclamation that allowed Georgia and Ukraine, two former Soviet republics, to join the alliance.
The statement added, "In the fundamental interests of European security, it is necessary to officially disavow the decision of the 2008 NATO Bucharest summit that 'Ukraine and Georgia will become NATO members."
Biden seeks united front with Ukraine amid Russian "threat"
On Thursday, US President Joe Biden called the Ukrainian president and nine NATO allies in Eastern Europe to confirm US support if Russia "attacks" Ukraine, as well as imposing "strict economic sanctions."
Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, expressing the "deep" concerns of the United States and its European allies about Russia's "aggressive activities" towards Ukraine, and explaining that they "will respond with economic and other strong measures" in the event of military intervention.
President Biden reiterated the United States' commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, stressing that the United States and its allies are committed to the principle of "not taking decisions or discussions about Ukraine without its participation," according to a White House statement.
