The US on Wednesday rejected Russia’s call to bar Ukraine from becoming a part of NATO. Earlier, Russia had put out a written list of its concerns about its security issues and the expansion of NATO. Among them was a demand for NATO to dismiss the possibility of Ukraine and others ever joining the alliance. “We are committed to uphold and defend Ukraine’s sovereignty, its territorial integrity, and right to choose their security arrangements and alliances,” Blinken said.
“We prefer diplomacy and we are prepared to move forward where there is the possibility of communication and cooperation if Russia de-escalates its aggression toward Ukraine, stop the inflammatory rhetoric, and approaches discussions about the future of security in Europe in a spirit of reciprocity,” Blinken added.
Russia while responding to the US said on Thursday that the United States was failing to address its main security concerns over Ukraine and left the door open to further talks to ease tensions.
In recent weeks, Russia has been pouring in large numbers of troops on the Ukraine border – something which has threatened Western countries and invoked them to prepare for the possible invasion of Ukraine, a state they consider a buffer between NATO and Russia. The border provocations have led them to send military aid to the country. The US this week had already sent three shipments of military assistance, including anti-armour weaponry and Javelin missiles, along with hundreds of tonnes of equipment and ammunition.
Though Ukraine is not a member of NATO and the alliance is not treaty-bound to defend it. But there is a growing push from the western countries that they will not allow any misadventure by Russia. As a result, NATO allies have continued to send reinforcements to eastern Europe and put their forces on standby. The reinforcements have been a response to Russia’s buildup of more than 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders.
The border tensions in Ukraine have led the relations between Russia and the West to reach their lowest point since the Cold War.
Warnings of a full-scale war are giving onlookers a prelude of Russia’s seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.