NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday (18 February 2022) took part in a secure conference call organised by the President of the United States Joe Biden on Russia’s continued military build-up in and around Ukraine and continued efforts to pursue diplomacy.
The call also included British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, as well as the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
The NATO Secretary General updated his colleagues on efforts at NATO to pursue dialogue with Russia and provide assurance to Allies. Participants stressed that Russia’s military build-up in and around Ukraine is continuing, despite claims by Moscow of a drawdown, and reiterated their strong call on Russia to resolve this crisis through diplomacy and dialogue, while stressing their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Secretary General recalled that NATO sent Russia concrete proposals in January, as well as his invitation for further meetings of the NATO-Russia Council to discuss European security, including the situation in and around Ukraine. At the same time, Mr Stoltenberg stressed that, as a defensive Alliance, NATO is doing what is necessary to protect and defend all Allies.