In relation to the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia, the three Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, said they would send U.S. anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine while the United States said it would fully support Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blincoln tweeted on the 22nd that he would like to pay tribute to the long-standing support of the Baltic States, a NATO ally.
“I fully support the transfer of defense equipment[to Ukraine],” said Blincoln. “The Baltic States are giving Ukraine the ability to defend itself against Russia’s unprovoked and irresponsible aggression,” he added.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said earlier this week that Western arms supplies to Ukraine are “very dangerous” and “does nothing to ease tensions.”
Fears of an invasion grew as Russia gathered tens of thousands of troops on its border with Ukraine. Russia has demanded that Ukraine never be added as a NATO member, that no NATO weapons will be deployed near Russian borders, and that it will withdraw its troops from Central and Eastern Europe, but Western countries have rejected these requests.
Blincoln met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the 21st, but no breakthrough was found.
In a joint statement on the afternoon of the 21st, the defense ministers of the three Baltic countries said, “We have reached an agreement to keep our promises to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in the face of continuous Russian aggression.” Estonia has said it will provide Javelin anti-tank weapons to Ukraine.
However, it is not immediately known when these weapons and equipment will be delivered to Ukraine.
[헬싱키(핀란드)=AP/뉴시스]