Russia’s unprovoked attacks on Ukraine have caused enormous human suffering and destruction, and have been a serious threat to the security of the Euro-Atlantic for decades.
When NATO meets this week, its approach should focus on strengthening deterrence and defense posture on the eastern side towards modern forward defense.
The multi-domain Allied presence, especially the Army, needs to be scaled up. The Army needs to expand to the size of the brigade. Interoperable with enhanced command and control arrangements, enhanced air and missile defense, ammunition, equipment, fuel advancement, and improved infrastructure and military mobility, in addition to timely enhancements by the Allied Forces. You need to secure an army that is ready for battle. Transatlantic connections and the presence of the United States are very important.
Russia’s criminal war in Ukraine, which began on February 24, is the latest in Russia’s ongoing attacks on neighboring countries. The attacks on Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014 were largely symbolic by the international community. The lack of results and the sense of impunity only made the Kremlin bold to continue its acquisition of land in his new empire.
Now, the heads of state and government of NATO’s allies have denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the strongest possible terms and called on President Putin to stop the war and withdraw all troops from Ukraine. They also emphasized that the Belarusian government is involved in Russia’s provocative and unjust war, and the need to seek clarification from both Russia and Belarus.
Nato has consistently and publicly contacted Russia for the past 30 years. Since the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, NATO has sought to build a partnership involving the NATO-Russian Council, which was established in 2002. However, Russia has shown no interest in cooperation and dialogue with NATO. Instead, Russia chose hostility, threats and attacks.
Gabrielius Landsbergis is the Foreign Minister of Lithuania