NATO Meets In Romania And The G7 Justice Ministers Meet In Germany
Olena Zelenka addresses the House of Commons
Day 279 (29 November)
Statement by NATO Foreign Ministers
Bucharest, 29-30 November 2022
29 Nov. 2022 - | Last updated: 28 Nov. 2022 19:49
The NATO Invitees associate themselves with this Statement.
1. We are gathered in Bucharest, close to the shores of the Black Sea, at a time when Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine threatens Euro-Atlantic peace, security, and prosperity. Russia bears full responsibility for this war, a blatant violation of international law and the principles of the UN Charter. Russia’s aggression, including its persistent and unconscionable attacks on Ukrainian civilian and energy infrastructure is depriving millions of Ukrainians of basic human services. It has affected global food supplies, and endangered the world’s most vulnerable countries and peoples. Russia’s unacceptable actions, including hybrid activities, energy blackmail, and reckless nuclear rhetoric, undermine the rules-based international order. We stand in solidarity with Poland following the incident of 15 November that led to the tragic loss of life as a result of Russia’s missile attacks against Ukraine. We condemn Russia’s cruelty against Ukraine’s civilian populations and violations and abuses of human rights, such as forcible deportations, torture, and barbaric treatment of women, children, and persons in vulnerable situations. All those responsible for war crimes, including conflict-related sexual violence, must be held accountable. We also condemn all those, including Belarus, who are actively facilitating Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
2. We welcome Foreign Minister Kuleba today, stand in full solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine in their heroic defence of their nation and land, and pay tribute to all those lives lost. We remain steadfast in our commitment to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We will never recognise Russia’s illegal annexations, which blatantly violate the UN Charter. We will continue and further step up political and practical support to Ukraine as it continues to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and our shared values against Russian aggression, and will maintain our support for as long as necessary. In this context, NATO will continue to coordinate closely with relevant stakeholders, including international organisations, in particular the EU, as well as like-minded countries. Building on the support provided so far, we will help Ukraine now to strengthen its resilience, protect its people, and counter Russia’s disinformation campaigns and lies. Allies will assist Ukraine as it repairs its energy infrastructure and protects its people from missile attacks. We also remain resolute in supporting Ukraine’s long-term efforts on its path of post-war reconstruction and reforms, so that Ukraine can secure its free and democratic future, modernise its defence sector, strengthen long-term interoperability and deter future aggression. We will continue to strengthen our partnership with Ukraine as it advances its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
3. Finland and Sweden are participating today as states invited to join the Alliance. Their accession will make them safer, NATO stronger, and the Euro-Atlantic area more secure. Their security is of direct importance to the Alliance, including during the accession process.
4. Recalling that the Western Balkans and the Black Sea regions are of strategic importance for the Alliance, we welcome our meeting with the Foreign Ministers of NATO partners Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and the Republic of Moldova, as NATO strengthens its tailored support to building their integrity and resilience, developing capabilities, and upholding their political independence. We firmly stand behind our commitment to the Alliance’s Open Door policy. We reaffirm the decisions we took at the 2008 Bucharest Summit and all subsequent decisions with respect to Georgia and Ukraine.
5. NATO is a defensive Alliance. NATO will continue to protect our populations and defend every inch of Allied territory at all times. We will do so in line with our 360-degree approach and against all threats and challenges. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stand in solidarity with Türkiye in grieving the loss of life after the recent horrific terrorist attacks. We face threats and challenges from authoritarian actors and strategic competitors from all strategic directions. In light of the gravest threat to Euro-Atlantic security in decades and in line with the Strategic Concept, we are implementing a new baseline for our deterrence and defence posture by significantly strengthening it and further developing the full range of robust, combat-ready forces and capabilities. All these steps will substantially strengthen NATO’s deterrence and forward defences. We remain committed to prepare for, deter, and defend against hostile attacks on Allies’ critical infrastructure. Any attack against Allies will be met with a united and determined response. We stand together in unity and solidarity and reaffirm the enduring transatlantic bond between our nations. We will continue to strive for peace, security and stability in the whole of the Euro-Atlantic area.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_209531.htm
A NATO Summit for Foreign Ministers is being held in Bucharest, Romania from 29-30 November 2022. Ukraine is top of the agenda, and the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dymtro Kubela participated, although it should be noted that Hungary objected to Ukraine participating fully in the summit. I have always said that Hungary cannot be trusted with the current government, who agree when they need EU funds, but when it comes to NATO, there is nothing NATO can blackmail them with. Orban was the only western leader invited to attend Gorbachev’ s funeral as everyone else was banned from entering Russia.
Stoltenberg has made a statement, that Putin is using winter as a weapon of war. I really wish NATO could show some leadership, because we have all said this weeks ago, and analysts have stated that Russia waited until November to launch missile attacks knowing the weather would turn. If they had done it in summer, there would have been time to repair the energy grids and cold weather would not have been a huge issue. It’s as if NATO wakes up to the obvious a month after everyone else and makes a statement to look as if they are on the ball.
Olena Zelenska addresses the House of Commons, asking for justice and thanking the UK for the support it has given to Ukraine, and acknowledged that the UK led the way for other countries to follow in supporting Ukraine, and urged countries to continue that support. She reminded everyone that even though the war was far away, it affects all countries. The visit also was to highlight the suffering of the Ukrainians and she met with the Queen Consort during her visit to London.
A meeting of the Justice Ministers from the G7 was held in Berlin, Germany for the first time to discuss how to co-ordinate the investigations into the alleged war crimes committed by the Russians. Kherson was was one of the first regions to be occupied and more mass graves are being discovered with evidence of war crimes having been committed. The world needs to establish a special tribunal and while I believe it is in the works, there needs to be something announced publicly so that Russian soldiers will see it as a deterrent and that it is wrong and that they will be punished on an international scale. Their Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Maliuska and the Ukrainian Prosecutor General, Andrew Kostin also attended the meeting.
Judicial examination of the atrocities committed in Ukraine will take years, perhaps even decades. But we will be well prepared – and we will persist for as long as it takes. (German justice minister Marco Buschmann)
Moldova is facing rolling blackouts as they are connected to the Ukrainian grids even though they use cheap gas from Russia. The Russians don’t care because they don’t want Moldova to become a member of the EU or NATO either, and want them to be dependent on Russian commodities.
The US is to offer a $53 million package to support the Ukrainian energy system. This will include supplying electricity grid equipment, vehicles, transformers and surge arresters. While the US is able to offer generous assistance after the fact, they fail to assist in prevention as they have dismissed the calls to supply Patriot missiles.
The German Justice Minister admitted that Nord Stream 2 project that Germany agreed with Russia after the occupation of Crimea, contributed to the outbreak of war. Some may ask how? Back then in 2014, many saw the occupation of Crimea as a domestic issue and there was more censorship of the media so many people did not know the full story. It allowed Russia to believe that they could occupy regions of Ukraine and the West would not send assistance, especially if Germany was willing to do business with Russia. In short, Russia believed there would be no consequences to their actions as other countries were willing to trade with them and to invest with them
Day 280 (30 November)
The ‘I want to live’ hotline set up for Russian soldiers wishing to surrender has given details of how the system is working. It was set up in September and provides assistance for Russians who wish to surrender. Some ring for advice, and queries come from family members as well. It works through messaging apps, WhatsApp and Telegram, and there are procedures on how to surrender safely.
Russian state television continues its propaganda, with people stating that more missiles should be fired to get rid of the Ukrainian population. There are some who are effectively inciting and trying to justify acts of genocide.
Even a member of the Russian Parliament (Duma) has stated that Ukraine is part of Russia and they are one nation, but they did not expect and were surprised that the Western nations supplied weapons to Ukraine. The special military operation was supposed to be over in weeks, and they counted on Western apathy like Crimea to win. They did not except the UK to offer weapons, although the US had allegedly offered some weapons to Ukraine prior to the invasion.
We must look back to the first couple of weeks of this invasion, and it was only Poland, the Czech Republic and the UK who offered weapons. Humanitarian aid is different to supplying weapons. The UK as a G7 country carries more weight, and once Boris Johnson sent weapons, other countries couldn’t procrastinate any longer. The US did not send weapons until 4-6 weeks later, Germany sent helmets, and France took several months before any weapons were sent. NATO said nothing officially until 6 weeks into the invasion. That is why many Ukrainians thank the UK and Johnson, because things could have been very different, and that’s why the Russians have threatened the UK more openly. If Johnson had not stuck his neck out, who know what would have happened?
NATO Meets In Romania And The G7 Justice Ministers Meet In Germany
Agree with Norway's Jens Stolenberg; "NO country should support Russia's 'illegal war'"!!!!!!