Kremlin says Russia and NATO are now in "direct confrontation" | Reuters

Kremlin says Russia and NATO are now in "direct confrontation"

By Reuters

April 4, 20243:11 AM PDT Updated 32 min ago

MOSCOW, April 4 (Reuters) - Russia and NATO are now in "direct confrontation", the Kremlin said as the U.S.-led alliance marked its 75th anniversary on Thursday.

NATO's successive waves of eastern enlargement are a fixation of President Vladimir Putin, who went to war in Ukraine two years ago with the stated aim of preventing the alliance from coming closer to Russia's borders. Instead, the war has galvanized NATO, which has expanded again with the entry of Finland and Sweden.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "In fact, relations have now slipped to the level of direct confrontation."

NATO was "already involved in the conflict surrounding Ukraine (and) continues to move towards our borders and expand its military infrastructure towards our borders", he said.

Putin has repeatedly said that Russia was cheated by the West in the aftermath of the Cold War as Moscow's Warsaw Pact alliance was disbanded but NATO moved eastwards by taking in former pact members and the three Baltic states that had been part of the Soviet Union.

The West rejects that version, saying NATO is a defensive alliance and joining it was a democratic choice by countries that had shaken off decades of Communist rule.
NATO says it is helping Ukraine fight for its survival in the face of Russian aggression, and has provided Kyiv with advanced weapons, training and intelligence.

Russia says that makes NATO de facto a party to the conflict. Putin said in February that a direct conflict between Russia and NATO would mean the planet was one step away from World War Three.

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Kremlin says Russia and NATO are now in 'direct confrontation' - World - Business Recorder

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75th anniversary of the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty, in Brussels

WorldcategoryNATO marks 75 years anniversary with show of unity as Ukraine war grinds on

[1/5]U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith attend a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty, in Brussels, Belgium April 3, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/Pool , opens new tab

BRUSSELS, April 4 (Reuters) - NATO foreign ministers celebrated the 75th anniversary of their alliance on Thursday with flags, cake and marching bands, while its secretary general reminded the United States that it needed its allies more than ever as the Ukraine war enters its third year.

The alliance's 32 member states agreed on Wednesday to start planning for a greater role in coordinating military aid to Ukraine to help it battle Russia in Europe's biggest conflict since World War Two and show its unity as Ukraine awaits a package worth some $60 billion that remains stalled in the U.S. Congress.

On the second day of a meeting in Brussels, the ministers marked the signing in Washington on April 4, 1949, of the North Atlantic Treaty that established the transatlantic political and military alliance.

"Europe needs North America for its security," Stoltenberg said at a ceremony at NATO's headquarters in Brussels.
"At the same time, North America also needs Europe.
European allies provide world-class militaries, vast intelligence networks and unique diplomatic leverage, multiplying America's might."

European leaders, who make up the bulk of NATO members, are anxious not only about NATO’s future if former U.S. President Donald Trump beats incumbent President Joe Biden in November, but also about the ongoing hold-up to the Ukraine aid package in Congress as Republicans demand border-security measures in return for passing the bill.

NATO began with 12 members from North America and Europe, founded in response to growing fears that the Soviet Union posed a military threat to European democracies.

EuropecategoryCzechs to give tens of millions of euros for Ukraine ammunition plan, PM says1:52 AM PDT

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Ukrainian president says strengthening air defences ‘directly’ saves lives as Dmytro Kuleba stresses importance of Patriot missiles at NATO meeting

The Guardian

an hour ago

Russia-Ukraine war live: Zelenskiy reiterates calls for stronger air defences as his foreign minister asks Nato for Patriot missiles

Russia-Ukraine war live: Zelenskiy reiterates calls for stronger air defenses as his foreign minister asks

The launcher system of a Patriot surface-to-air missile system. Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images

Show key events only

From 2h ago

04.51 EDT

'They have plenty of them': At Nato, Kuleba stresses need for Patriots

Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister, wished “happy birthday” to Nato. Speaking alongside Jens Stoltenberg, Kuleba said he has arrived in Brussels against the backdrop of “continued unprecedented missile and drone attacks.”

“I don’t want to spoil the party … the birthday party, but my main message today will be Patriots,” he said.

Kuleba added:

Saving Ukrainian lives, saving Ukrainian economy, saving Ukrainian cities depends on the availability of Patriots and other air defence systems in Ukraine.

He also emphasised that “providing Patriots depends on allies, they have plenty of them.”

Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba arrives for a NATO foreign ministers' meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussel on April 3. Photograph: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images

1h ago

05.49 EDT

Zelenskiy reiterates call for strengthening air defences

“We are working with our partners to strengthen the protection of our cities and villages and to protect our citizens,” the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said this morning.

“Strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities directly translates into saving lives,” he stressed.

2h ago

05.26 EDT

Relations between Russia and Nato have slid to the level of direct confrontation as the U.S.-led military bloc is already involved in the conflict in Ukraine and continues to expand towards Russia’s borders, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today, Reuters reported.

04.51 EDT

'They have plenty of them': At Nato, Kuleba stresses need for Patriots

“I don’t want to spoil the party … the birthday party, but my main message today will be Patriots,” he said.

Kuleba added:Saving Ukrainian lives, saving Ukrainian economy, saving Ukrainian cities depends on the availability of Patriots and other air defence systems in Ukraine.

He also emphasised that “providing Patriots depends on allies, they have plenty of them.”

2h ago

04.42 EDT

Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary-general, has reiterated this morning that support for Ukraine is not charity, but an investment in the alliance’s security.

Nato foreign ministers will meet today with their Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba.

Speaking alongside Kuleba, Stoltenberg said the sides will discuss how to strengthen cooperation and “how we can move you towards membership in Nato.”

The ministers will also once again discuss how to step up and sustain support for Kyiv, the Nato chief said, underscoring that they will talk about how to create a more “predictable” framework for support.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg gives a speech while international foreign ministers listen on. Photograph: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images

3h ago

03.34 EDT

'Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before', Kyiv's mission says

“Ukraine’s fight for freedom is NATO’s fight for a stronger future. And today, Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before,” Ukraine’s mission to Nato said as the alliance marks its 75th anniversary today.

Today marks the 75th anniversary since @NATO was founded.

Wishing the alliance to grow even stronger in the years to come 🤝

Ukraine's fight for freedom is NATO's fight for a stronger future. And today, #Ukraine is closer to #NATO than ever before.#1NATO75years pic.twitter.com/VQkTTU4KGV
— UKR Mission to NATO (@UKRinNATO) April 4, 2024

4h ago

03.15 EDT

Nato ministers gather for talks on alliance's 75th anniversary

Foreign ministers from Nato’s 32 members are gathering for a second day in Brussels today. They are marking the 75-year anniversary of the defensive alliance, and will also hold talks with Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba.

Later in the day, the minister will also meet with representatives of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the EU.