NATO condemns annexation: "This is a crucial moment"

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has described Russia's recent actions in the war against Ukraine as the worst escalation since the invasion began on February 24.

"This is a crucial moment," said the Norwegian on Friday in Brussels.

He pointed to Russia's partial mobilization, nuclear saber-rattling and illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories.

“None of that shows strength.

It shows weakness,” said Stoltenberg.

This is an admission that the war is not going according to plan and that Russian President Vladimir Putin has completely failed in his strategic goals.

Stoltenberg strongly condemned the annexation of Ukrainian regions by Russia.

"This land grab is illegal and unlawful," he said.

NATO allies "do not and never will recognize the territories as part of Russia."

According to Stoltenberg, fears of a Russian nuclear strike should not be given in. Putin said in the afternoon that Russia wanted military strikes in annexed areas from now on as attacks against their own national territory.He repeated the threat to react "with all available means".

Stoltenberg emphasized that if you accept Russia's annexation and let nuclear saber-rattling stop you from helping Ukraine, you are accepting nuclear blackmail.

Rather, one must continue to support Ukraine.

If Putin is allowed to win, Ukraine will cease to exist as a sovereign nation.

But this is also dangerous for the NATO countries.

It is not that inaction is not a risk.

Rather, inaction is a great risk because it creates a world in which Putin sees that he can use military force with impunity.

"Russia must understand that a nuclear war can never be won and must never be waged." At the same time, Stoltenberg warned Russia of serious consequences if it uses nuclear weapons.

This was clearly communicated to Moscow.

At the same time, Stoltenberg confirmed that NATO was not a party to the conflict.

Regarding the announcement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he wanted to quickly apply for Ukraine's admission to NATO, Stoltenberg said that such a decision "requires unanimity".