NATO Response to Russia’s war on Ukraine
NATO condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which gravely undermines international security and stability, and is a blatant violation of international law. NATO Allies call on President Putin to immediately stop the war, withdraw all his forces from Ukraine, and engage in good faith in diplomatic efforts.
Furthermore, NATO calls on Russia to fully respect international humanitarian law and to allow safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access and assistance to all persons in need. Russia’s appalling cruelty has caused immense human suffering and massive displacements, disproportionately affecting women and children. Russia bears full responsibility for this humanitarian catastrophe. Allies are working with relevant stakeholders in the international community to hold accountable all those responsible for war crimes, including conflict-related sexual violence. Russia has also intentionally exacerbated a food and energy crisis, affecting billions of people around the world, including through its military actions. Allies are working closely to support international efforts to enable exports of Ukrainian grain and to alleviate the global food crisis.
Russia’s actions pose a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security, and they will have geostrategic consequences. In February 2022, Allies adopted an unprecedented package of restrictive measures, including massive and severe economic sanctions, which are helping starve the Kremlin’s war machine of resources. Allies continue to refine the sanctions in order to increase the pressure on Moscow. These efforts will make it harder for Russia to rebuild its tanks, manufacture missiles and finance its war.
NATO will continue to protect its populations and defend every inch of Allied territory at all times. NATO has increased its military presence in the eastern part of the Alliance as a direct result of Russia’s behaviour, which reflects a pattern of aggressive actions against its neighbours and the wider transatlantic community. In response to the increased instability and insecurity along NATO’s periphery, Allied Heads of State and Government agreed at the 2016 Warsaw Summit to establish NATO’s forward presence in the northeast and southeast of the Alliance. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, NATO has deployed additional defensive land and air forces to the eastern part of the Alliance, as well as additional maritime assets. Allies have increased the readiness of forces to respond to all contingencies. At the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid, NATO leaders agreed to set a new baseline for the Alliance’s deterrence and defence posture to ensure the security and defence of all Allies for the long term. This includes deploying additional robust, in-place, combat-ready forces on the Alliance’s eastern flank.
Russia’s brutal actions against Ukraine have escalated since February 2022, but its war of aggression has been ongoing since 2014. After Russia’s illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea in March 2014, the Allies suspended all practical civilian and military cooperation in April 2014, while keeping open channels of political and military communication – including through the NATO-Russia Council for discussions on the situation in and around Ukraine and its implications for European security. At the NATO Summit in Wales in September 2014 and at subsequent summits since then, Allied leaders have condemned Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine. Allies have called on Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine, end its illegal occupation of Crimea, and comply with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities.
NATO also condemns Russia’s decision to extend recognition to the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” and “Luhansk People’s Republic” in eastern Ukraine. Russia’s support to separatist groups – which has included weapons, equipment, personnel and money – has further violated Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Allies will never accept this illegal recognition.
Allies have also noted that violence and insecurity in the region led to the tragic downing of Malaysia Airlines passenger flight MH17 on 17 July 2014, and call for those directly and indirectly responsible to be held accountable and brought to justice as soon as possible. Allies stand in solidarity with the Netherlands and Australia, which have called on Russia to take State responsibility for the downing of flight MH17.
NATO Allies also condemned Russia’s unjustified use of military force against Ukrainian ships and naval personnel near the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait in November 2018. In line with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 73/194 from 17 December 2018, Allies called on Russia to unconditionally release the Ukrainian crew members it detained, to return the captured vessels and to comply with its international commitments by ensuring unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov and allowing freedom of navigation. Allies also condemned Russia’s construction of the Kerch Strait bridge, which represents another violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Following this event, NATO Foreign Ministers agreed in April 2019 a package of measures to improve NATO’s situational awareness in the Black Sea region and strengthen support for Ukraine and Georgia.
From April 2021 until Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Allies continued to urge Russia to immediately reverse its massive military build-up in and around Ukraine. Allies also called on Russia to cease its provocations and to immediately de-escalate tensions on Ukraine’s borders and in illegally annexed Crimea, and to choose the path of diplomacy.