Featured image of post U.S., NATO reject Russia’s demand to exclude Ukraine from alliance

U.S., NATO reject Russia’s demand to exclude Ukraine from alliance

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia would have no say over who should be allowed to join the bloc.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia would have no say over who should be allowed to join the bloc.

Summary

  • The former Soviet republic is unlikely to join the alliance in the foreseeable future, but NATO nations won’t rule it out.
  • Story continues below advertisementBlinken and Stoltenberg spoke separately following an extraordinary virtual meeting of NATO foreign ministers.
  • Canada’s foreign affairs minister, Melanie Joly, participated in the NATO meeting.
  • NATO would have to agree to halt all membership plans, not just with Ukraine, and to end military exercises close to Russia’s borders.
  • NATO officials say Russia has refused to take part in meetings as long as Ukraine was on the agenda.