The foreign ministers from Nato’s 28 signatories have agreed to suspend all “practical civilian and military co-operation” with Russia over its ongoing actions in Crimea.
Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen called Russia’s underhanded invasion and annexation of Crimea:
“The gravest threat to European security in a generation…[that]challenges our vision of a Europe whole, free and at peace”
In a joint statement, Nato’s foreign ministers said:
We, the Foreign Ministers of NATO, are united in our condemnation of Russia’s illegal military intervention in Ukraine and Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We do not recognize Russia’s illegal and illegitimate attempt to annex Crimea. We urge Russia to take immediate steps, as set out in the statement by the NATO-Ukraine Commission, to return to compliance with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities, and to engage immediately in a genuine dialogue towards a political and diplomatic solution that respects international law and Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders. We support the deployment of an OSCE monitoring mission to Ukraine.
Earlier Nato noted that Russia were not pulling back its forces from the Ukrainian border, where it is believed that they have amassed tens of thousands of troops and caused much consternation in Ukraine and the West.
In response to Russia’s aggressive actions in annexing Crimea, Nato is considering situating permanent military bases in the Baltic states to reassure members in Eastern Europe that they have Western support to any Russian threat. Nato jets will also take part in air patrols in the region, with the UK, US, and France offering additional military aircraft in support according to the BBC.
