NATO Will Not Allow Russia to Blackmail the Alliance, Says Germany

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (Reuters)
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (Reuters)
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NATO Will Not Allow Russia to Blackmail the Alliance, Says Germany

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (Reuters)
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (Reuters)

NATO will not allow Moscow to blackmail the alliance and will not accept a Russian veto against an enlargement, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said on Friday.

"Russia does not have a veto in issues concerning the alliance and cannot blackmail us. These red lines must be clear in all pending talks," she told parliament, Reuters reported.

"But between these red lines and a military conflict, there is a lot of scope that we must make use of", Lambrecht said, adding she would meet NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Berlin next week.

In another development, Ukrainian military intelligence said on Friday that Russian special services were preparing what it called "provocations" against Russian servicemen located in Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniestria in order to accuse Ukraine.

It said in a statement that the provocations may be against Russian armed forces' artillery depots.

Ukraine was hit on Friday by a massive cyberattack warning its citizens to "be afraid and expect the worst." Russia, which has massed more than 100,000 troops on its neighbor's frontier, meanwhile released TV pictures of more forces deploying in a drill.



UK's Foreign Minister: US, Ukraine Should Deepen Partnership

Britain's new foreign secretary, David Lammy, is pictured at a meeting in Beirut, Lebanon in January 12, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
Britain's new foreign secretary, David Lammy, is pictured at a meeting in Beirut, Lebanon in January 12, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
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UK's Foreign Minister: US, Ukraine Should Deepen Partnership

Britain's new foreign secretary, David Lammy, is pictured at a meeting in Beirut, Lebanon in January 12, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
Britain's new foreign secretary, David Lammy, is pictured at a meeting in Beirut, Lebanon in January 12, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo

British Foreign Minister David Lammy said on Saturday he would encourage US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to deepen their partnership in the future.

"I would encourage Donald Trump and the Ukrainians to look very carefully at a deepening partnership over the next generations," Lammy said at the Munich Security Conference, Reuters reported.

Britain and Ukraine signed a landmark 100-year partnership agreement last month to deepen security ties and strengthen their countries' relationship.

Lammy said the best security guarantee for Ukraine against future Russian aggression was binding US industry, business and defence capability into its future.

"That is what will make Putin sit up and pay attention, and that is what's attractive to a US president who knows how to get a good deal," Lammy added.