Stoltenberg: NATO remains resolute in providing support to Ukraine

“President Putin has now claimed four more regions of Ukraine as part of Russia. This is the largest attempted annexation of European territory by force since the Second World War. Another 15 percent of Ukraine’s territory. An area roughly the size of Portugal. Illegally seized by Russia at gunpoint,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a briefing called after Russian president Vladimir Putin's decision to "join" the captured territories of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.

As Stoltenberg stressed, Russia’s land grab is illegal and illegitimate.

“NATO Allies do not, and will not, recognise any of this territory as part of Russia.

We call on all states to reject Russia’s blatant attempts at territorial conquest. These lands are Ukraine,” NATO Secretary General said.

NATO is not a party to the conflict but it provides support to Ukraine so it can uphold its right for self-defence, enshrined in the UN Charter, he added.

“NATO reaffirms our unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We remain resolute in providing support to Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russia’s aggression,” Stoltenberg summed up.

As reported, on the night of September 30, Putin signed a decree recognizing "the independence" of Kherson and Zaporizhizhia regions. As a reminder, Putin recognized the "independence" of "DPR" and "LPR" on February 21, and the agreement on their "protection" became the reason for the start of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On September 30, the Kremlin held a ceremony of "admission" of the puppet entities "DPR" and "LPR", as well as the territories of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions seized by the Russian army.

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