It said the members of the 28-nation, U.S.-led alliance expressed "their serious concern about the recent sharp escalation of violence" when they met in Brussels.
"Russia has a special responsibility to find a political solution," NATO acting spokeswoman Carmen Romero said in a statement.
"Any attempt by the Russian-backed separatists to take over more of Ukraine's territory would be unacceptable to the international community," she said.
The rebels currently control parts of Ukraine's Lugansk and Donetsk regions and have threatened to expand their holdings further westwards.
The NATO allies stressed the need for all sides to "de-escalate tensions and exercise restraint" while calling for "full implementation" of the peace accords reached in Minsk in February.
It said monitors from Europe's OSCE mission must be able to "do their job safely and without restrictions" after the organization said they faced "unprecedented" harassment during the spike in violence, mostly from the separatists.
"NATO stands firm in our support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," it said.
It renewed its support for "an independent, sovereign and stable Ukraine" that will pursue the path of democracy as the best way to ensure security in the Euro-Atlantic area.
It vowed to continuing following events closely.
Ukraine's government troops have been fighting pro-Russian separatists since April last year, which has claimed the lives of nearly 7,000 people.
While the conflict eased after the February truce agreement, fighting has intensified in recent days.
The Western-backed Kiev government and the insurgents on Monday reported the deaths of at lest 10 soldiers and civilians, the worst bloodshed in more than a month.
The fighting has stirred the highest tensions since the Cold War ended more than two decades ago as the West accuses Russia of not only arming the rebels but sending in troops to support them. Moscow denies the charges.
AFP
dailystar.com.lb
19/8/15
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U.S. F-22 Raptors to be deployed to Europe amid NATO concerns over Russia...
ReplyDeleteThe United States soon will deploy F-22 Raptors in Europe, sending the stealth fighter jets to reassure NATO partners concerned about Russia’s actions in Ukraine, a Pentagon official said Monday.
Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James did not offer specifics about where or when the single-seat jets would be deployed, citing operational security reasons. James also would not say how many of the planes would be deployed.
The deployment comes at the request of commanders in the region, she said, adding that F-22 pilots will train with NATO partners.
The F-22 was designed for air-to-air combat — attacking other warplanes — but also is capable of ground attacks.
The U.S. Air Force has about 180 F-22s, which became operational in 2005. They have been used in U.S.-led coalition strikes on the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
AFP
Les USA déploient des chasseurs F-22 en Europe...
DeleteLa mesure fait partie des efforts visant à parer une éventuelle "agression russe".
La secrétaire américaine à la Force aérienne, Deborah Lee James a approuvé le projet américains de déploiement en Europe des chasseurs ultra-modernes F-22, les plus sophistiqués de leur arsenal aérien, en estimant que les pays dans cette partie du continent avaient besoin de protection face à la "menace russe".
"Nous allons déployer très bientôt des F-22 en Europe pour répondre aux demandes du commandement militaire sur place, et dans le cadre de notre initiative de soutien aux Européens" face à la Russie, a déclaré Mme James lors d'une conférence de presse, sans donner aucune précision ni sur les dates, ni sur les lieux précis de déploiement des chasseurs.
Selon la secrétaire américaine, les pilotes américains pourront s'entraîner avec les pilotes des pays membres de l'Otan afin de "les soutenir et de faire preuve de notre engagement envers la sécurité et la stabilité en Europe".
Le F-22 est un chasseur ultra-moderne conçu pour des missions air-air (attaque d'autres appareils). Furtif et bourré d'électronique, il a pour mission de détruire les avions ennemis avant même que ceux-ci n'aient eu la possibilité de le détecter. Il est également capable d'attaques au sol...........http://sptnkne.ws/DaD
25/8/15