Russia says that the joint declaration of NATO and the EU has changes that will impact its relationship with the bloc.
NATO-EU Approach Could Hinder Peace
The Russian Foreign Ministry last Thursday reacted to the joint statement signed by the bloc and military alliance, which it said is for making US interests dominant instead, according to Republic World.
A statement from the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that despite their OSCE obligations, the military bloc sees opposition to Moscow instead, per Anadolu Agency. Adding the arms sent to Kyiv from the west and other extras is only involving the bloc more and pushing expansion into former Russian territories.
Moscow called the approach taken by the bloc confrontational and policies that are self-centered; that is causing division and separating the world. It will only prevent attempts to settle peacefully and make international security weaker against terrorism.
Russia Calls NATO-EU Joint Declaration a US Stratagem
The moves of Washington are clear, said the foreign ministry; the objective is to involve the European Union in a geopolitical contest. Also, Europe will be a vassal of the US by allowing itself less freedom to do what it wants. Washington wants all allies to be in on the drive against Moscow.
Last January 10, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, signed the deal on the third Joint Declaration on NATO-European Union cooperation.
This agreement would cement the two bodies in more geopolitical and other relevant issues not tacked before.More coop on technologies, space, external interference, and fake news.
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Stoltenberg stressed the joint partnership underlines a better European defense of security that will be compatible with the military alliance. Moscow's invasion of Kyiv is the focus of efforts.
NATO-EU Joint Declaration Aimed at Moscow, Beijing
Stoltenberg said in a press meeting right after the signing lauded what it means for the bloc and the western military alliance and called it important in the Brussels headquarters, reports ECNS.
European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed what the NATO chief said and further stressed the agreement enhances their cooperation. Von der Leyen said that European security is unstable due to the Ukrainian conflict that rages with the US proxy.
Furthermore, there will be more sanctions on Moscow's ally Belarus and even on such countries backing Moscow. This would be Saudi, India, China, and the AU, which has not accepted sanctions on the Kremlin.
The NATO chief added that the partnership supporting Zelensky would be more in 2023. Sources say that the declaration is not the first about the part the military bloc plays in Euro-Atlantic security. It follows two prior ones that were done in 2016 and 2018. More pressing is the bids of Norway and Sweden to be part of the military bloc that will defend 96% of the bloc's citizens.
Russia calls NATO and the EU to sign a joint declaration as another push on its border, pushing the bloc into the fray.
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