The feeling in Washington is that “at the moment it is not necessary, and indeed it could be counterproductive” to include Russia in the list of sponsors of terrorismthe American ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith explained in an online briefing, a few days after the approval, in the European Parliament, of a resolution to this effect.
Such a step, he added, “could inhibit or hinder the ability to bring humanitarian assistance into Ukraine and grain out of Ukraine.” “The focus in the United States is on sanctions, on identifying ways to add more against Putin and members of the government and the regime and ways to introduce pressure on the Russian economy”, he clarified on the eve of the meeting of foreign ministers of the Alliance Bucharest Atlantic.
“The question of negotiations (of peace, ed) is in the hands of Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky. We’ll let him have the say on whether and how he comes to a table,” Smith said. “The United States just wants to make sure that Ukraine and Zelensky are in the strongest position for when the negotiations happen. But at the moment there is no indication that Russia wants to negotiate, but still it is an issue in the hands of the Ukrainians, of Zelensky,” he added.
As for the entrance to theUkraine in NATO “the doors of the Atlantic Alliance remain open, the question of enlargement remains a topic of discussion between countries aspiring to join and NATO countries, and Russia – he underlined – has no veto right in these discussions. This remains our policy, said the American ambassador, specifying however that “the our focus collectively now is practical support to the Ukrainian forces and Ukrainiansthis is our priority and the effort in which we will channel our energy”.
“NATO’s focus is to continue to share a common assessment of what is happening on the ground in Ukraine, to reassert our unity vis-à-vis the Ukrainians, and to ensure that we individually assist Ukrainian forces, as well as find appropriate ways to that NATO can join for provide some non-lethal support so crucial now, in this winter of continued attacks on infrastructure,” Smith explained.
At the Bucharest meeting, Smith anticipated, the will also be examined issue of Iran’s military assistance to Russia in the war against Ukraine. “It’s an issue that has been talked about in the past and will continue to be talked about collectively,” she said.
