Ukraine-Russia conflict: NATO 'will not deploy combat troops to Kyiv', says Stoltenberg

rth Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will t be sending its troops to Ukraine, said alliance’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. In a televised interview with CNN, NATO chief said that organisation will instead send a written response to Russia’s security proposals this week in parallel with United States. Russian Foreign Ministry had published two draft agreements regarding its security proposals and sought a response from US and NATO. Earlier this month, Russia met with US, NATO and or European officials as fears increased over Moscow’s possibility of launching an attack on its neighbour, Ukraine. 

"NATO will t deploy NATO combat troops to Ukraine," NATO chief Stoltenberg said in televised interview.

"We are finalising at NATO proposals, written document we will send to m later this week. We will do that in parallel with United States," he also informed.

NATO is willing to ‘sit down and discuss’ issues

NATO chief said that alliance is willing to “sit down and discuss arms control, disarmament, transparency on military activities, risk reduction mechanisms and or issues which are relevant for European security”. However, Stoltenberg, in same interview, stressed that NATO is “t ready to compromise on core principles”.

It is to te that Stoltenberg’s remark came as US President Joe Biden also said that he has “ intention” of moving American or NATO troops into Ukraine. However, Biden stressed that Russia would face severe ecomic consequences if it invades its neighbouring nation. On Tuesday, US delivered military assistance to Ukraine but US President stated that any movement of US troops into Ukraine would be to reinforce NATO forces under alliance’s Article 5 obligations if Russia continues its military buildup near Ukraine.

Biden said that decision to deploy troops would be based on measures taken by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Biden went on to say that read-to-deploy action is a “NATO operation” instead of “a sole US operation”. US President even reiterated warnings to Russia saying that if Putin “continued to build up” or if he “was to move” troops into Ukraine, US will be reinforcing its troops. 

(Im: AP)