Ukraine FM Kuleba accuses NATO of 'doing literally nothing' to help Kyiv stop Russia

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Wednesday called  North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) an institution, which is "completely sidelined" as Russian war against Kyiv entered its fourth month. Speaking at World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Kuleba accused intergovernmental military alliance of "doing literally nothing" to help Kyiv deter Russian aggression. " war is always a test that takes masks off," he said, expressing resentment towards 30-nation bloc.

"NATO as an alliance, as an institution, is completely sidelined and doing literally nothing. I am sorry to say it," Kuleba said.

Stressing that "re was a public sentiment that NATO was a strong force" at beginning of Russia's war in Ukraine, he said it was expected that organisation will play a significant role in deterring "unprovoked and unjustified" assault on Ukraine, given that Kyiv was looking forward to joining bloc in order to secure its "territorial integrity." However, "it is doing literally nothing," he ded.

Kuleba hails EU's 'revolutionary decisions' in wake of Russian war

Landing European Union's efforts to counter Russian aggression, Kuleba said that union was believed "only capable of expressing various...different levels of concerns." However, Brussels' "groundbreaking and revolutionary decisions, which bloc did not expect to make" stood out to be massive support for Ukraine. 

For unversed, EU has vowed to phase out Russian crude oil imports in six months and refined products by end of 2022. union has alrey sanctioned Russia's largest investment bank Sberbank and Credit Bank of Moscow from SWIFT payment system. In its sixth package of penalties, 27-nation bloc has also cut off Russia's state-owned media from brocasting on EU satellite and internet networks. Apart from this, Commission is also reviewing Kyiv's joining bloc. 

In an apparent reference to Poland, US, France, and or NATO members who have delivered a massive consignment of weapons to Ukraine, Kuleba accepted "y are helping us." Just for context, US has delivered around $53 billion in humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine since February 24. On or hand, Poland has accommodated majority of Ukrainian refugees forcibly displaced amid war. France has delivered over 800 tonnes of humanitarian assistance since war began.

Russia is 'blackmailing int'l relations': Kuleba

Scorned by  Kremlin's demand to lift economic and financial sanctions on Moscow to ensure reopening of Black Sea ports, Kuleba said, "You cannot find a better example or blackmail in international relations." He rebuffed Russia's claims, warning leers against believing Moscow. "If anyone is buying it, I think re is a problem with that person, and we shouldn't waste too much time trying to understand why that person is making that point," Ukrainian FM clarified.

Kuleba's remarks came after Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko on Wednesday said that Moscow is rey to open a "humanitarian corridor" for vessels carrying food grains provided West agreed to remove "some" sanctions. For unversed, Ukraine's Black Sea ports have remained blocked since Russian invasion. More than 20 million tonnes of grains are stuck in silos of country.

(Image: AP)