Russia slams NATO demonstration of support for Ukraine

Russia has criticized NATO for taking advantage of its gatherings to show support for Ukraine, saying such an approach is “dangerous” and “unconstructive.”

“Regrettably, NATO is using the format of summits and other meetings with Ukraine in order to demonstrate its support. This is a dangerous trend, and a counterproductive one, it contradicts the interests of European security,” said Moscow’s Permanent Representative to NATO Alexander Grushko on Monday.

He also warned that the re-deployment of NATO-trained Ukrainian armed forces to the contact line in eastern Ukraine would deteriorate the already tense situation there.

“Many NATO countries are pursuing fairly serious assistance programs, primarily with their instructors training the armed forces of Ukraine, and we are concerned that these trained units are then redeployed to the contact line and participate in shelling. This is a dangerous trend,” he added.

NATO held a two-day summit in Warsaw, Poland late last week. During the talks, the Western military alliance decided to deploy 4,000 soldiers to defend its eastern border from what it calls Russian threats.

The coalition has stepped up its military buildup near Russia’s borders since it suspended all ties with Moscow in April 2014, when the then-Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula joined Russia following a referendum in March the same year.

ME