Blinken's meeting with NATO chief on Russia-Ukraine crisis
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels. He says NATO allies do not want a conflict with Russia, but they are ready for it if there is a conflict.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers on Friday, Blinken said that if that happened then the Allies would "protect every inch of the Neto area."
Stoltenberg condemned Russia's overnight attacks on civilians and Ukraine. In particular, he condemned the shelling at the Zaporizhiya nuclear power plant near the Ukrainian city of Enerhoda.
He said in the attack that "there is a sense of recklessness in this war, it is necessary to stop it and Russia must withdraw all its troops and seriously believe in diplomatic efforts."
Stoltenberg insisted that NATO was a defensive alliance and did not want a conflict with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called on NATO to establish a no-fly zone around Ukraine since the offensive began, but NATO allies have opposed a move that would attract them to a direct war with Russia.
"There should be no misunderstanding about our commitment to protect and safeguard all allies," the secretary-general said Friday. He says NATO forces have increased their presence in Eastern Europe as a "defensive position."
The NATO chief added that US and Canadian forces have joined European allies in the region and will continue to work with allies in the east to increase their presence on land, sea and air.
The Secretary-General noted that NATO foreign ministers are meeting to coordinate and consult on how to respond to the Russian aggression in Ukraine, and to consider its long-term effects.
[Some information in this report is taken from AP, Reuters and AFP.]
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