US-led NATO continued to expand eastward over the past 20 years as the initiator and major supporter of the Ukraine crisis, eventually leading to the emergence of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. After the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, instead of considering the harms of eastward expansion, NATO continues to provoke military conflict that seriously threatens regional and global security.
A legacy of the Cold War, NATO has expanded eastward five times since 1999 under the leadership of the United States. The number of NATO members increased from 16 to 30 and extended to the Russian border.
The Russian side believes that NATO's repeated eastward expansion, in breach of its word, was the primary factor leading to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
On the other hand, NATO repeated its old tactics and tried to persuade Finland and Sweden to join the organization. In his speech on April 3, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that if Finland and Sweden submit an application to join NATO, NATO would quickly accept it. If Finland, neighboring Russia, joins NATO, NATO's sphere of influence will extend directly to Russia's northwest border.
On the other hand, NATO exaggerated the tension and announced its plan for permanent military deployment in the border areas on the eastern flank of the organization. It has been learned that NATO's options include making Eastern European countries such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland the "main forces" opposing Russia.
In addition, as the Russia-Ukraine negotiations continued, NATO began to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons and equipment, including tanks. The real intention of this has also been questioned by the outside world.
Klaus Ernst, Chairman of the Climate and Energy Committee of the German Bundestag, said, “Sending arms to Ukraine will not be the turning point of the war, it will only prolong the war.” he said.
American investigative journalist Benjamin Norton stated that the USA and NATO escalated the crisis instead of calling Ukraine to negotiate, because they did not want the war to end in a short time.
It was pointed out in the public that NATO should reflect on its role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and who threatens regional and world security.
Source: China International Radio
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