During her first trip abroad, the new German Defense Minister addressed Russia, while the situation is still very tense between Moscow and the West over Ukraine.
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The new German Defense Minister has a message for Vladimir Putin. Russia cannot “impose his views” to NATO on regional security, declared Sunday, December 19, Christine Lambrecht, as tension climbs between Moscow and the West over Ukraine. She was speaking during a visit to Lithuania, her first trip abroad, where she inspected military units present in this NATO member country. The deployment of tens of thousands of troops by Russia on its border with Ukraine worries Lithuania, like the other Baltic countries, Estonia and Latvia.
“We must resolve this tense situation we are in now, both diplomatically and with credible deterrence, she told reporters at the Rukla military base. We need to talk to each other, which means discussing the proposals that Russia has put forward. This is fair and important “. “But it is not possible that Russia imposes its views on NATO partners”, added the Social Democrat, Minister of Defense of the new ruling coalition in Germany.
After massing some 100,000 troops near Ukraine, Russia last week made proposals to contain the role of the United States and NATO in the former Soviet Union and in Eastern Europe, calling for urgent negotiations with Washington. Moscow demands that the Atlantic Alliance not welcome new members and not establish bases in the former Soviet republics. The West threatened Russia with heavy sanctions if its soldiers entered Ukraine.