https://ift.tt/2kmUBVA. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with eastern NATO allies Monday about Russia’s military buildup along Ukraine’s border, calling for a “united” NATO stance.
In a phone call Monday with his counterparts in nine eastern NATO countries, known as the Bucharest Nine, Blinken said the United States was committed to “close consultation and coordination with all of our Transatlantic Allies and partners as we work toward de-escalation through deterrence, defense and dialogue,” according to State Department spokesperson Ned Price.
Blinken called for “a united, ready and resolute NATO stance for the collective defense of Allies” according to Price.
In addition, Blinken “underscored the United States’ unwavering commitment” to NATO’s Article 5, which calls for the joint defense of any member of the seven-decade-old military alliance, which formed after World War II.
Ukraine is not a member of NATO but has petitioned to join the alliance for more than a decade, a stance that has angered Russia.
Russia has been demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and reduce its deployments in central and eastern Europe.
In a Sunday phone call, U.S. President Joe Biden told Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the United States and its allies would “respond decisively” should Russia further invade Ukraine.
Moscow annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014, with the West protesting and imposing sanctions.