Ukraine could drop its bid to join NATO to avoid war with Russia, the BBC quoted the country's ambassador to Britain as saying, in what would amount to a major concession to Moscow in response to the build-up of Russian troops on its borders.
www.reuters.com
Ik snap onderstaande quote uit het artikel niet:
Ukraine is not a NATO member but has a promise dating from 2008 that it will eventually be given the opportunity to join, a step that would bring the U.S.-led alliance to Russia's border.
Putin says Ukraine's growing ties with the alliance could make it a launch pad for NATO missiles targeted at Russia. He says Russia needs to lay down "red lines" to prevent that.
De NAVO staat reeds aan de grens met Rusland via Polen, Litouwen, Letland en Estland. Vilnius en Riga liggen amper 100 km verder van Moskou dan Kyiv, en de Letse grens is dichter bij Moskou/St. Petersburg dan de Oekrainse. Als Putin zo bezorgd zou zijn om "a launch pad for NATO missiles targeted at Russia", dan is hij toch al bijna 20 jaar te laat gezien de Baltische staten volwaardige NAVO-leden zijn.