Posted on 01/07/2022 12:49:43 PM PST by RomanSoldier19
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and NATO on Friday roundly rejected Russian demands that the alliance not admit new members amid growing concerns that Russia may invade Ukraine, which aspires to join the alliance.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia would have no say over who should be allowed to join the bloc. And, they warned Russia of a “forceful” response to any further military intervention in Ukraine.
Their comments amounted to a complete dismissal of a key part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demands for easing tensions with Ukraine. Putin wants NATO to halt membership plans for all countries, including Ukraine. The former Soviet republic is unlikely to join the alliance in the foreseeable future, but NATO nations won’t rule it out.
Blinken and Stoltenberg spoke separately following an extraordinary virtual meeting of NATO foreign ministers. The meeting of the North Atlantic Council was the first in a series of high-level talks over the next week aimed at easing the tensions.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
Dumb , arrogant , move.
The Baltic States only .
If any
NATO's charter states "An attack on one is an attack on all" and requires members to come to the aid of he member attacked. I understand all the rhetoric about "controlling russian expansion, etc.", but I'm not sure I'm willing to support shedding American blood to defend some east european tin-horn dictator.
Good. Piss on Putin and piss on Russia for thinking they get to say who can and cannot join NATO or any other alliance.
Russia wants to bar Finland and Sweden from NATO membership. You saying they’re dictatorships? If so you’re dreadfully uninformed.
NATO’s charter says an attack on one is an attack on all, basically. Are we willing to go to way with Russia over, say, Ukraine?
Better to stop the Russians in Ukraine than to have to oust them from Europe again.
Yeah, as far as the nations right on Russia’s borders, I
agree.
Russia was it’s own worst enemy on this though. Breaching
the Ukraine’s border certainly didn’t help other nations
assess Russia as “no-risk”.
Now Russia wants everyone to trust them. A little late now.
Deep state working hard to get a proxy war going.
Oh, and Ukraine did not apply for NATO membership. They started the process and stopped it before any formal application was submitted.
Try to get your facts straight.
Poking the bear isn’t a good idea.
OK, Mr Know it All - Have YOU ever served and put your ass on the line? and are YOU packed and ready to go fight for each and EVERY one of the THIRTY members of NATO?
Why invade if you get everyone to agree that you already own them. Is Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, East Germany, baltics next?
Sounding familiar to Sudentenland (Czech), Alsace-Lorraine (France), and Prussia/Pomerania/Danzig (Gdansk - Poland).
We be time travelling (Whee!)
Poking the bear after it has poked us, however, is essential.
Colonel, USAF TJAGCR (Ret)
Not ours, either.
Just how do we have "Russia stay the hell out?"
Suck it Putin..
...and all of the Putin boot-lickers
...and mostly you ignorant vodka drinking Russian trolls.
...Might I suggest a good Tennessee sour mash.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.