NATO Accuses Russia Of Trying To 'Destabilize' Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Tuesday accused Russia of trying to "destabilize" Ukraine.



With relations between Russia and the West at their lowest ebb since the Cold War, Rasmussen said: "We are indeed very concerned about the situation in Ukraine, we have many different reports, it's a very fluid situation but no doubt Russia tries to destabilize the situation in Ukraine."



Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today program, he added that NATO had reinforced its collective defense strategy and said next week's NATO summit in Wales would see members "adopt a readiness action plan with the aim to improve our ability to act swiftly if needed."



Highlighting the organization's pledge to defend members from attack, he said: "We would consider the attack on one ally an attack on all. So, NATO allies would collectively defend a NATO ally that were to be attacked."



NATO members Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland all border Russian territory and NATO has increased military activity in the area, including exercises and air patrols.



Dubbing Russia's behavior on the Ukrainian border a "hybrid war," he said it was a "combination of conventional, traditional military operations and [a] more sophisticated information and disinformation campaign."



The leaders of NATO states have repeatedly accused Russia of supplying heavy weapons, including armor and rocket launchers, to pro-Russian separatists fighting the Kiev government in eastern Ukraine.



There have also been claims of incursions by Russian troops and cross-border shelling.



Addressing France's planned sale of two warships to Russia in a $1.7 billion deal -- criticized by Britain -- Rasmussen said: "I'm not going to interfere with a national French decision, that's not for NATO. It's a bilateral arrangement between France and Russia."



He added: "I have full confidence that the French government will take decisions taking into account concerns raised by other allies and taking into account the overall security situation in Europe."



On Iraq, he praised the U.S. military action against the Islamic State but said the Iraqi government had not asked for NATO assistance. Such a request would be viewed "constructively," Rasmussen said.



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