NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia will pay a “high price” if it uses force against Ukraine. As he added, the West has shown in the past that it is able to impose economic, financial and political sanctions against Moscow. In turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the expansion of NATO’s military infrastructure in Ukraine is a red line that he hopes will not be crossed.
“Russia will pay a high price if it uses force again against Ukraine’s independence,” Jens Stoltenberg told reporters after arriving at the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Latvia. “We have different options and we have shown over the years, in reaction to Russia’s previous use of military force against Ukraine, that we can maintain heavy economic and financial sanctions, political sanctions,” he added.
Saying that NATO forces increased their presence “both in the Black Sea region, but also in the Baltic region, in the air, on land or at sea,” the head of NATO stressed that “this is a direct reaction to the Russian military incursion in Ukraine, illegal annexation Crimea “.
Jens StoltenbergPAP / EPA / TOMS KALNINS
Vladimir Putin on the “red line” in the context of NATO activities in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in turn, speaking at the investment forum in Moscow, said that the expansion of NATO’s military infrastructure in Ukraine is a red line that he hopes will not be crossed. He also expressed concern about military exercises taking place near Russia’s borders.
Putin announced that Russia is also developing a new hypersonic missile, which will soon be in its arsenal.
Russian President Vladimir PutinMIKHAIL METZEL / PAP / EPA
Earlier, the United States and the United Kingdom had also warned Russia of any new military aggression against Ukraine.
Main photo source: PAP / EPA / TOMS KALNINS