NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
"We condemned Russia's blatant military aggression against Ukraine. And we call on Russia to step back in line with its international commitments, which it continues to breach," the secretary general said in a video address recorded during his visit to Prague, where he discussed on Thursday the Ukrainian crisis with the president and prime minister of the Czech Republic.
According to the secretary general, the Czech leaders and NATO stand together for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"Russia is trying to justify its actions by accusing the Ukrainian authorities of oppressing Russian speakers and by accusing NATO of a 'cold war' mentality. This is nothing but propaganda designed to subvert the Ukrainian government, covert the truth and divert attention from Russia's own illegal and illegitimate actions," he said.
According to him, some 40,000 Russian troops are massed along Ukraine's borders. NATO is watching them through satellite images, day after day.
Rasmussen said Russia was stirring up ethnic tensions in eastern Ukraine and provoking unrest.
"Russia is using its military might to dictate that Ukraine should become a federal, neutral state. That is a decision which only Ukraine, as a sovereign state, can make. Nobody else," he said.
"From Prague, I have this message to Russia. You have a choice. To stop blaming others for your own actions. To stop massing your troops. To stop escalating this crisis and start engaging in a genuine dialogue. Otherwise Russia will only face deeper international isolation. And that is in nobody's interests. Nobody wants a new 'cold war'," the secretary general said.
