Thread by @haynesdeborah

BREAKING: A passionate message from NATO Chief @jensstoltenberg (who is from Norway so knows first hand what it's like to neighbour Russia) to President Vladimir Putin - you have no right to a "sphere of influence" to control your neighbours

Speaking after a foreign ministers meeting @jensstoltenberg says: "It's only Ukraine & 30 NATO allies that decides when Ukraine is ready to join NATO. Russia has no veto, Russia as no say & Russia has no right to establish a sphere of influence to try to control their neighbours"

The NATO chief says the whole idea of Russia having a sphere of influence "is not acceptable".
@jensstoltenberg says: "They try to re-establish some kind of acceptance that Russia has a right to control what neighbours do or not do. 1/

"That is a kind of world we don’t want to return to, where big powers have a say or a kind of right to put limitations on what sovereign independent nations can do." 2/2

A bit more - forgive me but it was a v strong statement from NATO chief. @jensstoltenberg: "I'm coming from a small country bordering Russia. & I am v glad that our NATO allies have never respected that Russia has a kind of right to establish a sphere of influence in the north 1/

".., trying to establish what Norway, as a small, independent country can do or not do - and that is exactly the same for Ukraine" 2/2

I've started so I might as well finish as the rest of @jensstoltenberg response is also good - he argues Russia's perception that Ukraine seeking to join NATO is a provocation by the alliance is wrong. NATO simply respects the decision of a sovereign Ukraine. Quotes incoming 1/

"Ukraine is an independent sovereign nation with internationally recognised borders, guaranteed by Russia & all the other powers. Those borders... should be respected & that includes of course Crimea as part of Ukraine and Donbass as part of Ukraine. 2/

"So this idea that NATO support to a sovereign nation is a provocation is just wrong. It is to respect the sovereignty of the will of the Ukrainian people. So I think that tells more about Russia than about NATO. NATO is a defensive alliance. NATO is not a threat to anyone. 3/

"But NATO respects the decision of countries - like the Baltic countries, Poland when they decided to join and we also respected the decision of Ukraine that they aspire to NATO membership. 4/

"We have stated that they will become a member but of course it is up to us - 30 NATO allies - to decide when Ukraine is ready for membership, when they meet the NATO standards. 5/

"We help them on their way towards membership with reforms with support, with fighting corruption, with building defence and security institutions..." (then he makes the message to Russia that I posted at the top of this thread) 6/6