NATO Stands Firm: Unwavering Support for Ukraine Amid Russia’s New Weaponry
NATO has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine, stating that it will not be intimidated by Russia’s deployment of new weaponry in the ongoing conflict. This comes as tensions escalate, with Moscow unveiling advanced military systems aimed at reinforcing its position in the war.
NATO’s Commitment to Ukraine
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized that the alliance remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Stoltenberg declared:
"We will continue to provide Ukraine with the necessary support, including weapons, intelligence, and training, to defend its independence."
NATO has been pivotal in coordinating military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the onset of the conflict. Member states have supplied advanced weaponry, ammunition, and training to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities.
Russia’s New Weapon Deployment
Russia's recent deployment of advanced weapons has raised concerns among NATO members. While the specifics of the weapons remain classified, analysts suggest they include hypersonic missiles, advanced drones, and next-generation tank systems.
The move is seen as a show of force, intended to discourage NATO’s continued involvement in Ukraine. However, NATO officials have dismissed these actions as attempts at intimidation.
Escalating Tensions
The introduction of new weapons by Russia marks a significant escalation in the conflict, further straining relations between Moscow and NATO allies. NATO has reiterated that its support for Ukraine is defensive and focused on helping the country resist aggression.
The development has sparked diverse reactions globally:
- Western Nations: Reaffirmed their unity against Russian aggression, with calls for additional sanctions and military aid to Ukraine.
- Russia accused NATO of fueling the conflict by providing Ukraine with advanced weapons, claiming this undermines prospects for peace.
- Global Analysts: Warn of the potential for the conflict to spiral into a broader geopolitical confrontation.
What's happened so far?
Reactions have been coming in to Russia hitting Ukraine with a new intermediate-range ballistic missile on Thursday
The Kremlin said the strike was in response to Ukraine's use of American and British long-range weapons and was a warning that Washington had understood
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskydescribed the strike as a “clear and severe escalation” and said the “world must respond.”
The UK and Francehave said they will do "everything that is necessary" to support Ukraine and achieve lasting peace
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Russia's use of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile in Ukraine is a "dangerous escalation."
China has called for all parties to "remain calm and exercise restraint."
NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks in Brussels next week
Russian missile travelled at speed of Mach 11—Ukrainian military intelligence
Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR suggests the ballistic missile used by Russia against Dnipro yesterday may have been intercontinental and was likely a Kedr (“Cedar”) missile, which official Russian news agency TASS in 2021 said was a new intercontinental ballistic missile that Russia was planning to start developing in 2023-2024 to replace the Yars ICBM.
It took the missile 15 minutes to reach Dnipro after being launched from the Astrakhan region, according to HUR.
HUR also says the missile had six warheads, each equipped with six submunitions.
On approach to the target, the missile was travelling at the speed of Mach 11, or 13,583 km/h (8,440 mph).
Putin acts from weakness, not strength—former US ambassador to Nato
Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to scare Western allies with escalation, former US Ambassador to NATO, Ivo Daalder, tells the BBC's Newsday program.
“It’s something he’s been doing for quite a while. He’s constantly trying to find new ways to scare the West into not taking the actions they need to take in order to defend Ukraine, hoping to deter in some ways Western countries from continuing to support Ukraine," Daalder says.
He says now Putin is trying to scare Ukrainians, Europeans, and Americans by emphasising the conflict is not just fought in Ukraine but has the potential of spreading well beyond Ukraine.
“These threats should be taken seriously," Daalder says, "at the same time we shouldn’t be cowed by those threats or changes in doctrine... We should remember that Vladimir Putin is doing that from weakness, not because of strength."
Daalder deplores the fact that the US decision to allow Ukraine to use longer-range missiles into Russia came so late. He adds that US President-elect Donald Trump could also revoke that decision, along with a number of other actions that could make life for Ukrainians "much, much worse."
Kremlin says it is certain US understood missile strike'message.''
The Kremlin says that a strike on Ukraine using a newly-developed hypersonic ballistic missile was designed to warn the West that Moscow will respond to their "reckless" decisions and actions in support of Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had fired the new missile, which is capable of carrying nuclear warheads, at a Ukrainian military facility, and there was "no doubt" that Washington had understood the warning from Putin.
"The main message is that the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries that produce missiles, supply them to Ukraine, and subsequently participate in strikes on Russian territory cannot remain without a reaction from the Russian side."
Peskov also said that Russia had not been obliged to warn the US about the strike but had informed them 30 minutes before the launch anyway.
President Putin remained open to dialogue, Peskov added.
What do you think about NATO’s stance on supporting Ukraine? Can the alliance maintain its resolve amid Russia’s new weapons? Share your thoughts below!
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