The Kremlin’s demands to NATO regarding the so-called security guarantees are unacceptable. Perhaps in this way Russia is looking for a reason for war.
This was stated on the air of one of the Ukrainian TV channels by the MEP, former Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski.
He recalled that in July last year, an article by Russian President Vladimir Putin was published, in which facts about Ukraine are distorted.
– In July, President Putin published a very exciting article that misleads and distorts the facts. A kind of manifesto that visualizes the situation of Ukraine. He seems to be telling us very openly what he wants to do, but his actions are completely unacceptable. And the idea that a country can simply terminate past agreements and unexpectedly demand a sphere of influence is unacceptable,” Sikorsky stressed.
Commenting on the Kremlin’s demands that Ukraine never become a member of NATO, the MEP said that this could be a kind of game and a search for a reason for war.
Sikorsky recalled that during the Bucharest NATO Summit in 2008, Ukraine did not receive a MAP (Action Plan for membership in the Alliance). We are talking about a training program, without which NATO does not accept new members. The provision of a MAP to Ukraine has not happened so far.
– We did not provide Ukraine with a MAP, it was a very controversial issue in 2008. And nothing about this ambition of Ukraine to join NATO has changed yet… I don’t understand why President Putin suddenly started to get so worried about this. Perhaps this is not a real demand at all (regarding Ukraine’s refusal to join, – Ed.), because nothing is happening. Perhaps he is just looking for a reason for war, and this is also very exciting–” Sikorsky said.
Commenting on the possibility of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he said that this is a danger for the whole of Europe.
– The invasion of an additional 100 thousand Russian troops will be a big war, because everyone understands that Ukraine will resist— – the politician said.
At the same time, Sikorsky expressed the opinion that the Russian Federation does not currently have enough military forces on the border for a full-scale attack. The MEP stressed that Ukraine is not defenseless in this situation, and Ukrainian regular troops now exceed the number of Russian forces near the borders.
The MEP also assured that Russia faces severe consequences if it still decides to attack.
– The consequences for the Russian Federation will be such as to help Ukraine protect itself. The military potential of NATO’s eastern flank will be strengthened, there will be really painful economic sanctions, as well as, possibly, the freezing of assets of Russian oligarchs, including President Putin. We will be very angry if the Russian Federation starts moving against Ukraine—” Sikorsky said.
