The NATO meeting, marked by the uncertainty related to the prospects of a peace in Ukraine. More countries want Russia to receive deadline
NATO headquarters in Brussels. Photo: AA / Abaca / Abaca Press / Profimedia
The uncertainty related to the prospects of a peace in Ukraine and especially the non -expressed position of Moscow compared to a fair and sustainable peace have marked the atmosphere around the NATO ministerial meeting on Thursday and Friday, although the situation in Ukraine has not been the main point on the agenda, Agerpres reports.
The interest was attracted by the performance of the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is for the first time at such a meeting in the company of Foreign Ministers in NATO and Canada.
Rubio said on Friday that Washington will find out in a few weeks how serious Russia is in Ukraine, which is still a modular position of Americans taking into account the statements of the last month of the White House, Donald Trump, on the commitment of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We will know enough soon, in terms of weeks, not Monday, whether Russia is serious or not in connection with peace. I hope it is,” explained Marco Rubio at the end of the NATO Ministerial Meeting. “We try to see if the Russians are interested in peace. Their actions – not words – will determine if they are serious or not and we intend to find out rather soon,” he added.
The US sent a warning to Russia, against the background of the frustrations on peace negotiations: “We will know quite soon, in a few weeks”
In March, Moscow rejected a proposal to complete fire for 30 days, after Kiev announced that he agreed with the proposal. Subsequently, the two belligerent parts agreed on a suspension of attacks on energy infrastructure, but then accused each other of violating the agreement.
The US states that it is discussing with both sides on this subject.
“We see you, Vladimir Putin, we know what you do”
Regarding the European countries of the North Atlantic Alliance, they want the US to ask Moscow to demonstrate their seriousness by signing a cessation of fire, some states even pronouncing to establish a deadline in this regard.
“Putin could now accept a cessation of fire, he continues to bomb Ukraine, his civilian population, his infrastructure. We see you, Vladimir Putin, we know what you do,” British Foreign Minister David Lammy said on Friday.
His German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, who will soon end his mandate, said that the mention of negotiations by the Russian leader constitutes “nothing but promises without content” and that Putin “buys time by presenting new requests.”
According to the head of Canadian diplomacy Melanie Joly, a deadline should be set until Russia can present its position on the proposal to cease in Ukraine.
According to his counterpart Eston Margus Tsahkna, there should be red lines in terms of calendar in relation to fire in Ukraine. “Russian President Vladimir Putin asks more and not just about Ukraine. He puts new conditions on the table; I think there must be a kind of red lines on the calendar,” he said before Friday's discussions with counterparts from the other 31 NATO Member States.
“I felt that in the room there is a large agreement that are the red lines,” said the head of Norwegian diplomacy Espen Barth Eide after being asked if the European Foreign Ministers received from the Secretary of Marco Rubio Asiguri that the US will not do the concession that would be contrary to European interests.
