Reacting to the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the U.K. and six other NATO states are planning to form a joint expeditionary force that would bolster the alliance's power, the Financial Times reported Friday.
According to the report, the 10,000-strong force will incorporate air, naval and ground units. It is to be ready to respond to crises rapidly and to hold regular, frequent exercises in Europe and elsewhere.
The force will reportedly be led by British commanders. The other participating nations – Denmark, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Norway and the Netherlands – will contribute special troops and units. Canada has also showed interest in joining the endeavor.
The details of the planned measure are yet to be worked out. Nevertheless, the Financial Times cited analysts as saying that the step could send a message to Russia, which, according to NATO, has deployed artillery and more than 1,000 troops in Ukraine.
Moscow still publicly denies its forces are fighting to support pro-Russian rebels who have declared independence in two provinces of eastern Ukraine. But the rebels themselves have all but confirmed it, saying thousands of Russian troops have fought on their behalf while "on leave."
- Ukraine called on Friday for full membership in NATO, its strongest plea yet for Western military help.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he respected Ukraine's right to seek alliances.
"Despite Moscow's hollow denials, it is now clear that Russian troops and equipment have illegally crossed the border into eastern and southeastern Ukraine," Rasmussen said. "This is not an isolated action, but part of a dangerous pattern over many months to destabilize Ukraine as a sovereign nation."
http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/1.613165
30/8/14
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Media campaign fuels Russian threat myth ahead of EU, NATO summits - Chizhov...
ReplyDeleteBRUSSELS, August 30, /ITAR-TASS/. The anti-Russian mass media campaign in the Western mass media was launched to foment fears of a ‘Russian threat’ ahead of the European Union’s summit in Brussels on August 30 and NATO summit in Wales on September 4-5, Russia’s EU envoy Vladimir Chizhov said on Friday.
“A number of periodicals have been quoting Ukraine’s claims about a Russian military invasion of Ukraine and demanding the West take resolute action,” the diplomat said.
The senior Russian diplomat sees three explanations for the timing of this campaign. Firstly, the Ukrainian authorities’ abortive attempts to eliminate the crisis in the east of the country by means of a punitive operation. Secondly, this reflects the anger of “certain personalities in Kiev and in some third countries” over the successes achieved at the Minsk talks on August 26, as well as the high level contacts between the Customs Union and the European Union. Lastly, the media campaign was timed for the EU summit in Brussels on August 30 and NATO summit in Wales on September 4-5 with the aim to foment fears in the European and North American countries of a mythical Russian threat.”
Chizhov expressed the hope “the European leaders and public opinion are capable of taking an impartial look at the situation and deriving sound conclusions from it to see that a political settlement of the crisis in Ukraine has no alternatives.
http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/747333
30/8/14
Putin, Poroshenko agree on railway aid delivery to Ukraine's southeast...
ReplyDeleteRussian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he has agreed with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on the proposal of delivering humanitarian assistance to southeastern Ukraine by train.
"We agreed that we will implement Poroshenko's plan in his way for aid provision to people in Lugansk and Donetsk, and send products and supplies by railway," Putin said of the Tuesday meeting with Poroshenko in Minsk in an interview with Russia's Channel One Television.
Poroshenko proposed the plan at the face-to-face meeting between the two leaders held on the sidelines of the Minsk summit aimed at ending the months-long crisis in Ukraine, and Putin agreed, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.
"Poroshenko showed understanding for what Russia is doing" in terms of helping the southeastern Ukrainian regions, Putin said. " It was a very good meeting, or so I think," Putin said, adding that Poroshenko was "a partner one can talk to."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday that Moscow and Kiev were in contact to hammer out details of sending another Russian humanitarian convoy in the coming days.............http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/879043.shtml
30/8/14
NATO planning rapid-deployment force of 10,000 troops to counter Russia – report...
ReplyDeleteNATO is reportedly working towards the creation of an expeditionary force composed of 10,000 troops from seven different member states as a result of escalating tensions with Russia over the conflict in Ukraine.
According to the Financial Times, the force’s creation will be spearheaded by Britain and involve contributions from Denmark, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Norway, and the Netherlands. Canada is also interested in joining the group, but it’s not known what its final decision will be.
Although no formal announcement has been made, British Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to declare its formation at the upcoming NATO summit in Wales on September 4th...........................http://rt.com/news/183828-nato-rapid-deployment-force/
30/8/14
L'ambassade de Russie en Ukraine fait état de disparition de deux de ses employés...
ReplyDeleteL'ambassade de Russie à Kiev a fait état de disparition de deux employés de la mission diplomatique. Cela a été rapporté par le service de presse de l'ambassade russe.
Auparavant, il a été signalé que deux diplomates russes avaient été interpellés en sortant d’un café dans la capitale ukrainienne, malgré la présentation de leurs passeports diplomatiques. Selon les données, les prétendues grenades auraient été trouvées chez eux.
Entre-temps, le Département général du ministère de l'Intérieur à Kiev a fait une déclaration, dans lequel il avait nié publiquement la détention du personnel de l'ambassade russe.
Lire la suite: http://french.ruvr.ru/news/2014_08_30/Lambassade-de-Russie-en-Ukraine-fait-etat-de-disparition-de-deux-de-ses-employes-7854/
30/8/14
NATO plans new 'spearhead' force to counter Russia...
ReplyDeleteIn response to Russian actions in Ukraine, NATO will agree at a summit this week to create a rapid-reaction force of several thousand troops, alliance officials said Monday, prompting Russia to accuse the alliance of "aggravating tensions".
Leaders from the 28-nation North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meeting for a summit in Wales on Thursday and Friday are expected to create a new "spearhead" force that would be able to respond more quickly to a European crisis.
“We will develop what I would call a 'spearhead' ... a very high-readiness force able to deploy at very short notice. This spearhead would be provided by allies in rotation and could include several thousand troops, ready to respond where needed with air, sea and special forces support,” NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (pictured above) told a news conference.
"The Readiness Action Plan will ensure that we have the right forces and the right equipment in the right place at the right time. That means a more visible NATO presence in the East for as long as required," Rasmussen said....................http://www.france24.com/en/20140902-nato-new-spearhead-force-russian-threat-ukraine/
2/9/14
The challenges facing NATO....Remarks by NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, London....
ReplyDeleteOn Thursday, leaders from across the Alliance will come together in Wales to decide the future course of NATO. They will be joined by partners from nearly 40 nations and international organizations.
The last time a NATO Summit was held in the United Kingdom, almost a quarter of a century ago, it marked a historic turning point for European security. The end of the Cold War heralded an unparalleled opportunity for peace and partnership with what was then still the Soviet Union.
Our Wales Summit wasn’t intended to offer the same sense of history. But it was meant to mark an important transition for the Alliance. The main purpose was to mark the end of our combat mission in Afghanistan, to welcome home our troops, and to look forward to working with a new President of Afghanistan in the years ahead. And we were going to prepare for a quieter period for the Alliance in which the focus would be on partnerships and on training and exercises to maintain our “edge” following two decades of non-stop operations.
We will still do this. But because of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the focus of our Summit has shifted significantly..........................http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_112388.htm
2/9/14