Lavrov speaks out against NATO at UN

[angelburst29]

11.27.2018 - Russia seeks to restore dialogue with NATO, Lavrov says
Russia seeks to restore dialogue with NATO, Lavrov says

"During the talks we paid enough attention to the situation in the Euro-Atlantic Region, including Russia’s relations with the EU and NATO. Both relations have been frozen," Lavrov said. "We confirmed that we are interested in resuming full-fledged contacts, especially between the military."

"It seemed to me that the French colleagues share this stance," the foreign minister said.


November 26, 2018 - NATO head urges Russia to free Ukrainian sailors and ships
NATO head urges Russia to free Ukrainian sailors and ships | Reuters



BRUSSELS - NATO head Jens Stoltenberg urged Russia on Monday to release Ukrainian navy ships and sailors seized over the weekend near Crimea, saying there was no justification for Moscow’s actions.

Ukraine has accused Russia of military aggression and puts its armed forces on full combat alert after Russia on Sunday fired on and then captured the three ships and 24-strong crew in the Kerch Strait, which links the Black Sea with the Azov Sea.

Kiev has urged its Western allies to consider further sanctions against Moscow. Russia in its turn has accused Ukraine of plotting with the West to provoke a crisis.

“We saw that Russia used military force against Ukraine in an open and direct way,” Stoltenberg told a news conference after emergency talks of the Western military alliance held at the request of Ukraine, which is not a NATO member.

“All allies expressed full support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” he added. “There is no justification for the use of military force against Ukrainian ships and naval personnel so we call on Russia to release immediately the Ukrainian sailors and ships it seized yesterday.”

Stoltenberg said Russia should also allow all commercial vessels full access to Ukrainian ports.

He cited economic sanctions already imposed by the West on Russia over its 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula and its support for separatist rebels battling Kiev’s forces in eastern Ukraine.

“We are following and monitoring the situation very closely and we are constantly assessing what more we can do because Russia has to understand that its actions have consequences.”

“This is escalating the situation in the region and it confirms a pattern of behavior which we have seen over several years...,” he added.


November 13, 2018 - Merkel favorable of European army as “NATO supplement”
Merkel favorable of European army as “NATO supplement”

While delivering her speech on the ‘Future of Europe‘ the German Chancellor Angela Merkel shared her vision on the future of the European defense with the Members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg Plenary session.


[URL='https://twitter.com/europarlAV']EP Audiovisual ✔ @europarlAV
https://twitter.com/europarlAV/status/1062360483313958912

#FutureOfEurope debate w/ #AngelaMerkel, German Federal Chancellor: LIVE REPLAY Opening statement by #AngelaMerkel https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/debate-on-the-future-of-europe-opening-statement-by-angela-merkel-german-federal-chancellor-_I162933-V_rv …

Debate on the Future of Europe: opening statement by Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor...
EP Plenary session Debate with Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor on the Future of Europe during the plenary session in Strasbourg (12-15/11/2018)
multimedia.europarl.europa.eu

Chancellor proposed the organization of the EU security council and operational forces to be able to act swiftly in performing mandated missions outside the EU.

[URL='https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage'] [/URL]
[URL='https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage']Nigel Farage ✔ @Nigel_Farage
https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1062363881425768449
Merkel has just called for an EU Army. I’m about to give my thoughts to the European Parliament. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/home.html …
10:17 AM - Nov 13, 2018

While debating with the Chancellor Merkel Future of Europe, MEP Nigel Farage (UKIP) dabbed the idea of organization the EU army as a construction of an “Empire” and “militarized union”, “expanding to the East“.

Treaty establishing the European Defence Community has remained un-ratified since the day it had been signed on 27 May 1952 by six countries – West Germany, France, Italy, and the Benelux. The treaty would have created a European Defence Community (EDC) with a pan-European defence force. The treaty failed to pass ratification in the French parliament – National Assembly, and consequently never entered into force.
[/URL][/URL]

 

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Mon Dec 03, 2018 - NATO Supports Arms Control, Ready for Dialogue with Russia
Farsnews

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday that the bloc supported the idea of arms control and was ready for talks with Moscow.

The statement comes two months after Stoltenberg stated that the alliance was ready to continue a dialogue on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia, Sputnik reported.

Speaking further, the senior official called on for a restraint around the latest Kersh incident.

On November 25, three Ukrainian Navy vessels, the Berdyansk, Nikopol, and Yany Kapu — entered Russian territorial waters that were temporarily closed and began moving toward the Kerch Strait, which serves as an entrance to the sea. The Ukrainian vessels and their 24 crew members were detained by Russia after failing to respond to a lawful demand that they stop.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the incident a pre-planned provocation, saying that it seemed to be connected to Ukrainian President Poroshenko's low approval ratings ahead of next spring's presidential elections.

Russia and NATO are holding discussions on present-day issues via the NATO-Russia Council that was established in May 2002. The council, however, was suspended in 2014-2016 over the situation in Ukraine. The latest NATO-Russia Council meeting was held in October at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

 

[angelburst29]

4/12/2018 - Russia takes centre-stage at NATO meeting in Brussels
Russia takes centre-stage at NATO meeting in Brussels

The Russian attack on the Ukrainian vessels who were on their way to Azov sea on 25 November was in the focus of attention of NATO' Foreign ministers meeting in Brussels. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to immediately release the ships and the sailors.

Because of aggressive actions against Ukraine, illegally annexing Crimea, destabilising eastern Ukraine, and now we have also seen what they tried to do in the sea of Azov, NATO has implemented the biggest reinforcement of collective defence since the end of the cold war," Stoltenberg told reporters.

NATO also decided to help Ukraine rebuild it's army and navy, mainly by training their personnel. However President Petro Poroshenko asked allies to send warships to Sea of Azov.

Michael Carpenter from Atlantic Council comments:

"Romania, Turkey and Bulgaria are all NATO nations with a Black sea littoral. So for example boosting NATO military presence in the port of Constanta in Romania would to my mind be a very useful step that would both boost NATO defence and deterrence and also provide Russia with a clear consequence for its aggressive action in Crimea and now in the sea of Azov as well.

NATO jets based in Romania have increased their air policing of the area. Warships have extended their presence in the Black sea from 80 days last year to 120 this year so far. Euronews correspondent Andrei Beketov reports:

"Russia is already reacting to the prospects of this NATO buildup. The member of the Council of Federation Alexey Pushkov has tweeted that “the call of US Senator John Barrasso to send ships to the Black Sea is a recipe for a sharp escalation of the conflict". In the meantime, according to internet agency Fotnanka.ru, the Black sea fleet is preparing to exercise near the entrance to the sea of Azov".


December 6, 2018 - NATO Foreign Ministers Agree Russia In Violation Of INF Treaty
NATO Foreign Ministers Agree Russia In Violation Of INF Treaty

NATO Allies have concluded that Russia has developed and fielded a new missile system in violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a key arms control agreement which has been crucial in upholding NATO’s security for over 30 years.

At a meeting on Tuesday (4 December 2018) NATO Foreign Ministers called on Russia to urgently return to full and verifiable compliance, saying: “it is now up to Russia to preserve the INF Treaty.”

Allies expressed firm commitment to preserving effective international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation.

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty has been crucial in upholding NATO’s security for over 30 years, NATO said in a statement, adding that Allies have concluded that Russia has developed and fielded a missile system, the 9M729, which violates the INF Treaty and poses significant risks to Euro-Atlantic security.

“We strongly support the finding of the United States that Russia is in material breach of its obligations under the INF Treaty,” the statement said.

The statement continued: “For over five years, Allies and the United States in particular, have repeatedly raised their concerns with the Russian Federation, both bilaterally and multilaterally. As we stated in the Brussels Summit Declaration in July, Russia has responded to our concerns with denials and obfuscation. Russia only recently acknowledged the existence of the missile system, but without providing the necessary transparency or explanation.”

According to NATO, the United States has remained in full compliance with its obligations under the INF Treaty since it entered into force. Allies have emphasized that the situation whereby the United States and other parties fully abide by the Treaty and Russia does not, is not sustainable.
Russia’s violation of the INF Treaty erodes the foundations of effective arms control and undermines Allied security.

“This is part of Russia’s broader pattern of behaviour that is intended to weaken the overall Euro-Atlantic security architecture,” according to NATO.

 

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15.12.2018 - Psycho-analysing NATO: Schizophrenia
Psychoanalysing NATO: Schizophrenia

NATO sorrowfully explains its problems with Russia on its official website:

For more than two decades, NATO has worked to build a partnership with Russia, developing dialogue and practical cooperation in areas of common interest. Cooperation has been suspended since 2014 in response to Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine but political and military channels of communication remain open. Concerns about Russia’s continued destabilising pattern of military activities and aggressive rhetoric go well beyond Ukraine.

None of this – of course – is NATO's fault: on the contrary NATO is concerned that

Russia’s military activities, particularly along NATO’s borders, have increased and its behaviour continues to make the Euro-Atlantic security environment less stable and predictable, in particular its practice of calling snap exercises, deploying near NATO borders, conducting large-scale training and exercises and violating Allied airspace.

Suffice it to say that this statement would have a closer relationship with reality if the words "NATO's borders" were replaced with "inside Russia". And I would be interested to hear the details of "violating Allied airspace". Why even the Daily Telegraph in 2015 with its suggestive headline of Mapped: Just how many incursions into Nato airspace has Russian military made? had to admit "The Ministry of Defence says the Russian bombers have never violated Britain’s sovereign airspace, which extends 12 nautical miles from the coast." Likewise Violated US Airspace 16 Times In Last 10 Days turns out to be Air Defence Identification Zones which is not the same thing at all. Or Most Russian Plane Intercepts over Baltics Due to Error: NATO General. So NATO's statement needs a further calibration so that "violating Allied airspace" becomes "flying in international airspace close to Allied countries' airspace".

Therefore, properly understood, NATO accuses Russia of 1) holding military exercises in its own territory, 2) flying in international airspace, 3) supporting secessionist movements in places that weren't part of Yugoslavia or aren't in the Middle East or North Africa. And they accuse it of invading countries that NATO didn't invade first. NATO projects its behaviour, gaslights its audience and confirms its initial assumption when Moscow objects. But that's NATOLand for you – the unicorns roam free and all is sunny until the bear smiles.

There is a striking schizophrenia among NATO's members: Russia is, at one and the same time, so weak it's "doomed" and so strong that it's demolishing NATOLand.

Russia is forever, eternally, endlessly, doomed. Always on the edge of collapse. (But Russia has always been doomed here’s Time in 1927) and it was altogether finished in 2001. But doom dooms on. Has an ‘open society’ doomed Russia to fail? (September 2012); Russia Is Doomed (March 2014); Why Putin’s Adventure in Ukraine Is Doomed (April 2014); Putin’s Nationalism and Expansion Strategy Is Doomed to Fail (September 2014); Sorry, Putin. Russia’s economy is doomed (December 2014); Remember Russia? It’s still doomed (January 2015); Morgan Stanley thinks Russia’s doomed (February 2015); Secretary of Defense: Russia 'Doomed to Fail' in Syria (September 2015); Is Russia's Economy Doomed to Collapse? (July 2016); Why The Saudi-Russian Oil Agreement Is Doomed To Fail (September 2016); Putin’s Bridge to Crimea Is Doomed to Collapse (January 2017); Russia’s Su-57 Stealth Fighter Is Doomed to Fail (December 2107); The Russian economy looks doomed (March 2018); Russia is doomed to steadily fall behind the rest of the world (August 2018); Why Putin’s 5-100 project is doomed to fail (October 2018). And its soccer team too! Aging and Inexperienced: Why Russia Is Doomed to Fail (June 2018).

You'd think, with all this doom dooming away at Russia, that no one would be much worried about it. Except of course for the risk of getting bits of it spattered on you when it finally crashes down. Said collapse confidently predicted three years ago by Alexander Motyl, who, making his wish the father of his thought, declaimed that Russia might even "disappear":

As the new year begins, both Ukraine and Russia are making steady progress. The difference is that, while Ukraine is slowly, and more or less surely, adopting a raft of systemic reforms that will make it a normal Western market democracy, Russia is becoming a failed state. If current trends continue, as they probably will, Russia may even disappear.​

​

But, amazingly, Russia has become more powerful than ever before. Not even Stalin in his wildest dreams imagined choosing the next US President. Yet, even as "weak and dying" Russia freefalls, Putin has done exactly that: "Vladimir Putin has a plan for destroying the West—and that plan looks a lot like Donald Trump" Trump being what Putin would design to "undermine American interests – and advance his own". "Trump is Putin's ally in Russia's war on the West". But even before he animated his Trumpenpuppet, his tendrils had slithered deep into Washington: "Putin’s Got America Right Where He Wants It: And that's bad news for Obama". So Putin, although he's no genius, just another Brezhnev, has a puppet in the White House.

But not just there: Putin (Aspergers, "gunslingers' walk", lonely psychopath that he is), through his "useful idiots", affects everything, everywhere. Brexit. French election. Italian election. German election. Austrian election. Dutch election. Canada's next election. Catalonian separatism. Gilets jaunes. Hungary's Prime Minister is a Putinist. And it's more, so much more: Russia and the Threat to Liberal Democracy: How Vladimir Putin is making the world safe for autocracy. Moscow's unstoppable "Hybrid War" weaponising Information, Culture and Money. Separatism, migrants, left wing right wing.

Sounds as if we're the ones who are doomed.

In this race of the doomed: who will get to the FINAL DOOM first?

 

[angelburst29]

December 25, 2018 - Serbian leader: NATO seeks to misrepresent deal on military presence in northern Kosovo
Serbian leader: NATO seeks to misrepresent deal on military presence in northern Kosovo

According to Vucic, NATO is trying "to forget about the second part of the agreement".

© AP Photo/Gero Breloer

NATO seeks to misrepresent the 2013 Brussels Agreement’s provisions concerning the presence of the Kosovo military in the northern part of the region, Serbian President Aleksander Vucic told the Pink TV channel on Tuesday.

"Kosovo’s ROSU [Regional Operational Support Unit] may only enter the northern part of Kosovo if NATO forces allow it and the Serb community gives its consent. This is the truth, but if NATO wants to violate the agreement, then it is a different matter," he said. "Our agreement implies that there will be no ROSU units, I personally took part in meetings and explained it to [then High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine] Ashton and NATO officials 500 times, I also told NATO that there would be no Albanians armed with automatic weapons in the north of Kosovo unless those two conditions were met," the Serbian president pointed out.

According to Vucic, NATO is trying "to forget the second part of the agreement," while "these are not alternating conditions" and both of them must be met. "This is the truth. Whoever says differently is a liar," the Serbian leader concluded.

The NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) claimed earlier that the ban on entering the Serb-populated northern Kosovo concerned only the Kosovo Security Force, while ROSU did not have to ask for permission to enter for they allegedly were tasked with ensuring law and order across the entire Kosovo.

The 2013 Brussels Agreement is aimed at normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina. The 15-paragraph document mostly covers issues concerning the powers of Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo. However, Pristina has not yet fulfilled the agreement.

 

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The Atlantic Alliance will take the necessary steps if Russia does not return to the INF Treaty by the end of the deadline, said the bloc’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg.

Jan 5, 2019 - ‘Russia’s Last Chance’: NATO Demands Moscow’s Compliance with Treaty INF
'Russia's Last Chance': NATO Demands Moscow's Compliance with Treaty INF - Fort Russ

It is worth noting that NATO had established an ultimatum of 60 days in December regarding this matter.

“Russia now has a last chance. If Russia does not come back into compliance, well, then we have a big problem because then the INF Treaty is breaking down,” Stoltenberg told Germany’s dpa news agency.

The Secretary-General believes that in order to restore strategic balance, NATO has many ways to respond to the cessation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). However, he refused to specify the details so as not to aggravate the situation.

In addition, the chief of the bloc avoided responding whether NATO could control the deployment of US nuclear missiles in Europe under bilateral agreements. Stoltenberg said he welcomed the decision of the Alliance of Foreign Ministers, who in December agreed on the need to resolve this within the organization.

At the same time, he indicated that the new Russian 9M729 or SSC-8 missiles are already installed in Europe and that they are capable of carrying a nuclear warhead that violates the INF Treaty.

US accusations of alleged violations of the INF Treaty by Russia are unfounded, as the 9M729 missile does not violate the postulates of the agreement, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The US is accusing Russia of building missiles banned by the INF Treaty, while Moscow says US missile defense systems already installed in Eastern Europe can easily be converted into offensive ballistic missile launchers.

In October, the US announced they would withdraw from the treaty unless Russia suspended the alleged violations and in December gave Russia a 60-day deadline to comply with the agreement. According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Moscow was immediately informed that the decision was final and not an attempt to start the dialogue.

Russia has warned that it has to respond if American missiles are stationed in Europe, making them targets.

 

[angelburst29]

Russian and NATO Ambassadors will meet in Brussels for a ninth time, with a focus on Nuclear Weapons and the Ukrainian standoff.

January 21, 2019 - NATO, Russian Ambassadors to meet on Friday
NATO, Russian ambassadors to meet on Friday | Reuters

NATO and Russian ambassadors will meet in Brussels on Friday, the Western military alliance said, with discussions likely to focus on the standoff over Ukraine and on nuclear weapons.

This would be the ninth such NATO-Russia Council since the start of 2016.

“Following consultations with Russia, we have agreed to hold a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council at ambassadorial level on Jan. 25, 2019 at NATO headquarters in Brussels,” a NATO official said on Monday.

NATO has criticized Russia over its seizure of three Ukrainian naval vessels and their crews in November. A court in Moscow ruled last week that 24 Ukrainian sailors seized off the coast of Crimea should be kept in pre-trial detention until April.

Russia has meanwhile warned that a new U.S. missile defense strategy would unleash a dangerous arms race in space and amount to a relaunch of the Cold War-era “Star Wars” program.

The Trump administration has said it plans to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty, on the grounds Moscow is flouting it. Russia though says it is in compliance, and that Washington is in fact in violation.

 

[angelburst29]

The House passed bipartisan legislation on Tuesday expressing congressional support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Jan. 22, 2019 - House passes bill expressing support for NATO
House passes bill expressing support for NATO

© Getty Images

The bill, which passed in a 357-22 vote, includes a provision rejecting any efforts made by President Trump to potentially withdraw from the treaty. All the "no" votes were from conservative Republicans.

Its passage comes days after administration aides told The New York Times that Trump has repeatedly floated pulling out of NATO over the course of the past year — a move critics fear would embolden Russia and threaten strategic international military alliances.

The House-passed measure, spearheaded by Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), would bar any funds from being used to withdraw from the alliance.

“This bill makes it clear the United States Congress still believes in the NATO mission and will prevent any short-sighted efforts to undermine the NATO or unilaterally withdrawal our country,” House Majority Leader (D-Md.) told reporters Tuesday, highlighting the alliance's role in the peaceful end to the Cold War.

The legislation also includes language calling on NATO members to meet their commitment of providing at least 2 percent of their GDP for defense spending, which was agreed upon in the 2014 Wales Defense Investment Pledge. It also promotes “robust funding for the European Deterrence Initiative to counter Russian aggression.”

 

[angelburst29]

A meeting of the Russia-NATO Council on the INF Treaty began in Brussels on January 25.

Friday January 25, 2019 - Kremlin hopes partners will heed Moscow's INF stance at Russia-NATO Council
Kremlin hopes partners will heed Moscow’s INF stance at Russia-NATO Council

"The Russian side keeps explaining its consistent position to partners. All parameters of our stance are well-known and absolutely transparent," he (Peskov) said. "We do hope that we will be listened to and heard."

NATO and Russia failed on Friday to resolve a dispute over a new Russian missile that Western allies say is a threat to Europe, bringing closer Washington’s withdrawal from a landmark arms control treaty.

Friday January 25, 2019 - NATO-Russia meeting fails to break deadlock over Russian Missile
NATO, Russia fail to agree over missile breach, U.S. to quit treaty | Reuters

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 24, 2019. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

At a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in Brussels, envoys from NATO’s 29 members renewed their call on Moscow’s top diplomat to the alliance to destroy a nuclear-capable cruise missile system before a Feb. 2 deadline. Without a breakthrough, the United States is set to start the six-month process of pulling out of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), having notified it would do so in early December and accusing Moscow of breaching it.

Russia denies violating the terms of the treaty.

“The treaty is in real jeopardy,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. “The sooner Russia comes back into compliance, the better. The treaty has no value if it is not respected, the problem are the Russian missiles in Europe,” he told a news conference after the meeting.

While Stoltenberg described the meeting as professional, he said Russia had shown no willingness to compromise.

(Comment: "no willingness to compromise". Then ... WHAT"S THIS? All new and shiny!)

* January 23, 2019 - Russia, in effort to defuse US Nuclear dispute, displays new Missile
Russia, in effort to defuse U.S. nuclear dispute, displays new missile | Reuters

* Slideshow (9 Images)
Russia takes wraps off new missile to try to save U.S. nuclear pact | Reuters

* LIVE: Russia’s Defence Ministry holds news briefing on 9M729 missile system (ENG)

Streamed live on Jan 23, 2019 (49:55 min.)

What Happened: The Russian military presented its 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile — the weapon at the center of a dispute between Moscow and Washington — to a crowd of Russian and foreign officials on Jan. 23. With the show and tell, the Kremlin is aiming to demonstrate that the missile is not, as the United States has claimed, in violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

Jan. 23, 2019 - As the INF Treaty spat heats up, Russia shows off a Missile
As the INF Treaty Spat Heats Up, Russia Shows Off a Missile

 

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NATO believes that US strike drones and target missiles for ballistic defense do not violate the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday.

Friday January 25, 2019 - NATO claims US combat UAVs, ballistic defense target missiles ‘not in violation’ of INF
http://tass.com/defense/1041821

"These issues have been discussed for several years, the question of UAVs, ballistic and target missiles, which are used to test ballistic defense. These systems are not in violation of the INF treaty," the NATO chief said, responding to a question from TASS at a press conference on the results of the Russia-NATO Council session in Brussels.

As Stoltenberg asserted, "Russia continues to raise this issue to deflect tension from the real problem," posed by new Russian missiles as he believed.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier stated that Washington interprets the treaty’s obligations quite freely "when it hinders the creation of armaments important to them."

This concerns the use of target missiles (Hera, LRALT and MRT) during missile shield weapons tests, as their characteristics are similar to the capabilities of intermediate and shorter-range missiles, which the United States classifies as ‘surface-to-air’ missiles permitted by the treaty. In contrast, Russian specialists believe that development of technologies for the production and use of missiles with a banned range of capabilities are being tested under the guise of these launches.

In October 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that the use of strike drones by the US was a direct breach of the INF accord because they actually did not differ in any way from intermediate-and shorter-range missiles.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who took part in Friday’s session of the Russia-NATO Council, called on NATO nations to pool efforts to keep the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in place, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Friday January 25, 2019 - Russian diplomat calls on NATO to pool efforts to keep INF Treaty in place
http://tass.com/politics/1041869

"The discussions focused on the crisis around the INF Treaty following the United States’ unilateral decision to withdraw from it. On our part, we provided every evidence to prove that accusations against Russia are groundless and are only meant to shift the responsibility for the breakdown of this major instrument that is vitally important for the entire European security architecture onto Russia," the ministry said.

"The Russian side called for joint efforts towards substantive and constructive work to find ways of saving the treaty," the ministry stressed.

 

[angelburst29]

"NATO will continue to work with Russia to get it to respect the INF Treaty, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday." Stoltenberg is just another automated robot of the Pentagon's wet dreams ... one script - one theme ... repeat on command.
Never Admit Treason Officially!

February 1, 2019 - NATO to continue talking with Russia about INF treaty: Stoltenberg
NATO to continue talking with Russia about INF treaty: Stoltenberg

In remarks to Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, Stoltenberg added that intelligence collected from many countries over many years showed Russia was breaking the INF treaty.

The United States announced on Friday it would suspend compliance with the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia on Saturday and formally withdraw in six months if Moscow does not end its alleged violation of the pact.

 

[angelburst29]

London was the home of NATO’s first headquarters - NATO is now on it's 70th anniversary year and will be hosting a summit in London this coming December. Below is a list of current NATO bases.

NATO Military Bases
The Atlantic Alliance (NATO) has its own Network of military bases, thirty in total. The latter are primarily located in Western Europe:

Whiteman, U.S.A., Fairford,
Lakenheath and Mildenhall in United Kingdom,
Eindhoven in Netherlands,
Brüggen, Geilenkirchen, Landsberg, Ramstein, Spangdahlem, Rhein-Main in Germany,
Istres and Avord in France.
Morón de la Frontera and Rota in Spain,
Brescia, Vicenza, Piacenza, Aviano, Istrana, Trapani, Ancora, Pratica di Mare, Amendola, Sigonella, Gioia dell Colle, Grazzanise and Brindisi in Italy,
Tirana in Albania,
Incirlik in Turkey,
Eskan Village in Soudi Arabia and
Ali al Salem in Koweit

NATO announces December summit in London
NATO announces December summit in London

Leaders of the NATO allies will hold a summit in December in London, Jens Stoltenberg, the Western military alliance's secretary general, said in a statement on Wednesday.

Stoltenberg said: “We are grateful to the United Kingdom for agreeing to host this meeting in NATO’s 70th anniversary year.

“London was the home of NATO’s first headquarters. The United Kingdom was one of the Alliance’s twelve founding members and continues to play a key role in the Alliance, making essential contributions to our shared security.


NATO Chief: Germany must continue to raise defense budget
Germany must continue to increase its defenses spending despite having less wiggle room in its budget, NATO Secretary General said, after a government document on Monday showed the tax revenues were likely to rise less than expected in coming years.

Germany has assured NATO it will stick to defense spending aim: source
The German government has assured NATO that it will stick to its aim of boosting defense spending to 1.5 percent of its gross domestic product by 2024, despite having less wiggle room in its budget, a German security source told Reuters on Wednesday.

Macedonia signs accord to join NATO despite Russian misgivings
NATO members signed an accord with Macedonia on Wednesday allowing the tiny ex-Yugoslav republic to become the 30th member of the U.S.-led alliance after a deal with Greece ended a 27-year-old dispute over its name.

 

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According to the minister, the Alliance is reluctant to make sure that military aircraft transponders are on during flights, which would help ensure security.

Feb. 12, 2019 - Lavrov points to NATO’s unprecedented military build-up near Russian borders
Lavrov points to NATO’s unprecedented military build-up near Russian borders

NATO continues its unprecedented military build-up near Russia’s borders, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a joint press conference following talks with his Finnish counterpart Timo Soini on Tuesday.

"The facts are clear: NATO continues its unprecedented military build-up near Russia’s borders, boosting military infrastructure and increasing the number of troops. The number of exercises in the Baltic and Black Seas, as well as of air force drills, has multiplied," the Russian top diplomat noted.

According to Lavrov, the Alliance is reluctant to make sure that military aircraft transponders are on during flights, which would help ensure security, although the issue has been raised many times at meetings of the Russia-NATO Council.

"They prefer to debate over their view of developments in Ukraine that come as a result of a coup they had supported," Lavrov pointed out.

The Russian foreign minister also said that Western countries did not respond to Russia’s suggestions to arrange expert dialogue on cyber security.

"We have on numerous occasions put initiatives before our western partners to launch a serious expert conversation on cyber security instead of noisy discussions of who poses a threat in this area. However, there has been no response," Lavrov emphasized.

NATO is planning defensive measures in a world without the INF Treaty but does not intend to deploy new missiles in Europe, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

Feb. 12, 2019 - NATO chief claims alliance preparing defensive measures for 'INF-free world'
NATO chief claims alliance preparing defensive measures for 'INF-free world'

NATO is planning defensive measures in a world without the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty but does not intend to deploy new missiles in Europe, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference on Tuesday ahead of a meeting between the alliance’s defense chiefs.

NATO is preparing for a new era without a Cold War nuclear treaty that the U.S. accuses Russia of violating, the head of the alliance said Tuesday.

12/02/2019 - NATO vows to stand up to Russia after Cold War nuclear treaty crumbles
NATO vows to stand up to Russia after Cold War nuclear treaty crumbles

During a wide-ranging interview, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also told NBC News that NATO has discussed the possibility of a troop drawdown in Afghanistan as part of a peace deal with the Taliban.On Russia, Stoltenberg said that NATO's "first priority" is to save the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty, which Washington is walking away from because it says Moscow has deployed a banned missile."At the same time," Stoltenberg added, "we are planning for a world without the INF Treaty, with more Russian missiles in Europe." Signed by the U.S. and Soviet Union in 1987, the pact was designed to reduce the threat of nuclear war in Europe.
https://www.euronews.com/2019/02/12/nato-plans-world-without-inf-treaty-stoltenberg-says-n970486

 

[angelburst29]

Russia had been long and persistently calling on "going back to the basics", the top diplomat reminded.

Feb. 20, 2019 - Lavrov slams West for dragging Balkans into NATO, while turning deaf ear to its peoples
Lavrov slams West for dragging Balkans into NATO, while turning deaf ear to its peoples

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov © Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

The West is unceremoniously pressuring Balkan nations into becoming NATO members in total disregard of the people of these nations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a conference in honor of the late Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin held in the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

"The West is advancing its brazen policy of dragging this region into NATO in total disregard of the countries’ people, in addition to ignoring the lessons of history or simple diplomatic courtesies," Lavrov said.

He stressed that Russia had been long and persistently calling on "going back to the basics - back to the basic principles of international relations written in the UN Charter and the OSCE’s documents, that is, the sovereign equality of states, non-interference in domestic affairs, refraining from the threat or use of force, and conflict resolution by peaceful means.".

Russian Foreign Ministry's official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier that the North Atlantic Alliance earlier talked about Russia's news weapons with irony.

Feb. 21, 2019 - NATO starts worrying after learning about Russia's plans to deploy news weapons — diplomat
NATO starts worrying after learning about Russia's plans to deploy news weapons — diplomat

Russian Foreign Ministry's official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova © Vladimir Gerdo/TASS

The North Atlantic Alliance is now nervous about Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement that new types of weapons may be used against command centers where decisions are made to use missiles that threaten Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry's official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on her Facebook account on Wednesday.

NATO earlier spoke about Russia's news weapons in an ironic manner, Zakharova noted. "One year ago Western partners all said that 'Russian cartoons' abut new types of weaposn should not be feared, that the Kremlin is bluffing. And now everybody suddenly 'realized' what is 'in focus' and even started to 'understand' what the camera is attached to?" she added.

"Did they really think that we will make selfies with them after NATO enlargement, after US withdrawal from the missile defense treaty, after the build-up of US military contingent in Europe and endless interference of collective West into internal affairs of sovereign states," the diplomat said.

Zakharova stressed that Russia's measures should be assessed solely as a response to others' aggressive actions.

 

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"The West is advancing its brazen policy of dragging this region into NATO in total disregard of the countries’ people, in addition to ignoring the lessons of history or simple diplomatic courtesies," Lavrov said.

The day after the signature of NATO’s membership protocol with North Macedonia as its 30th member, Ukraine did something without precedent: it included in its Constitution the engagement to enter officially into NATO and the European Union at the same time.

February 13, 2019 - Ukraine: NATO in the Constitution
Ukraine: NATO in the Constitution - Global Research

On 7 February, on a proposition by President Petro Poroshenko – the oligarch who made himself rich by plundering public properties, and who is once again a candidate for the presidency – the Kiev parliament, by 34 votes to 35 with 16 abstentions, approved these amendments to the Constitution.

The Introduction pronounces “the irreversible movement of Ukraine towards Euro-Atlantic integration”; articles 85 and 116 state that it is a fundamental duty of the parliament and the government to “obtain Ukraine’s full membership of NATO and the EU”; article 102 stipulates that “the President of Ukraine is the guarantor of the strategic decisions of the State aimed at obtaining full membership of NATO and the EU”.

The inclusion in the Ukrainian Constitution of the engagement to enter officially into NATO bears with it some very serious consequences.

On the interior, it alienates the future of Ukraine from this choice, by excluding any alternative, and outlaws de facto any party or person who might oppose the “strategic decisions of the state”. Already, the Central Electoral Commission has forbidden Petro Simonenko, director of the Ukrainian Communist Party, to participate in the Presidential elections to be held in March.

The merit for having introduced into the Ukrainian Constitution the engagement to enter officially into NATO goes in particular to Parliamentary President Andriy Parubiy. Co-founder in 1991 of the Ukrainian National-Socialist Party, on the model of Adolf Hitler’s National-Socialist Party; head of the neo-Nazi paramilitary formations which were used in 2014 during the putsch of Place Maïdan under US/NATO command, and in the massacre of Odessa; head of the Ukraine National Security and Defense Council, which, with the Azov Battalion and other neo-Nazi units, attacked Ukrainian civilians of Russian nationality in the Eastern part of the country and used his squadrons for acts of ferocious abuse, the plunder of political headquarters and other auto-da-fés in a truly Nazi style.

On the international level, we should keep in mind that Ukraine is already linked to NATO, of which it is a partner: for example, the Azov Battalion, whose Nazi character is represented by the emblem copied from that of the SS unit Das Reich, has been transformed into a special operations regiment, equipped with armoured vehicles and trained by US instructors from the 173rd Airborne Division, transferred to Ukraine from Vicence, and seconded by other NATO members.

Since Russia has been accused by NATO of having illegally annexed Crimea, and of launching military operations against Kiev, should Ukraine officially join NATO, the 30 other members of the Alliance, on the basis of article 5, would be obliged to “assist the party or parties under attack by adopting immediately, individually and in agreement with the other parties, any action that it should deem necessary, including the use of armed force”.

In other words, they would have to go to war with Russia.

These dangerous implications of the modification of the Ukrainian Constitution – behind which are most certainly strategies by the USA and NATO – have been met with political and media silence. Including that of the Italian parliament, which, in 2017 established an agreement with the Ukrainian parliament, supported by Laura Boldrini and Andriy Parubiy. Thus cooperation has been reinforced between the Italian Republic, born of resistance against fascism and Nazism, and a régime which has created in Ukraine a situation similar to that which brought about the arrival of fascism in the 1920’s and Nazism in the 1930’s.