NATO weighs a plan to provide long-term military help to Ukraine as Russian troops assert control
Associated PressApr 03
As NATO Turns 75, Russia Says it and the Alliance are Reaching 'Direct Conflict'
The Facts
As the US-led NATO alliance marked 75 years since its founding in 1949 — doing so with flags, cake, and marching bands, alongside a message from the Secretary General about the importance of unity — Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that relations between Russia and the alliance "have now slipped to the level of direct confrontation."
NATO was "already involved in the conflict surrounding Ukraine [and] continues to move towards our borders and expand its military infrastructure towards our borders," Peskov said.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Amid Ukraine's difficult battlefield situation, this is the time for NATO to up its support for Ukraine — not leave the country hanging out to dry after three years of fighting. Nonetheless, neither NATO nor Russia wants the possibility of an all-out conflict between nuclear-armed states.
Pro-Ukraine narrative
Ukraine welcomes this NATO foreign ministers' summit, particularly as Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuelba and Stoltenberg will host another meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council. While voluntary contributions are welcome, Ukraine will seek to secure firmer and more long-term commitments as well.
Pro-Russia narrative
Throughout this conflict, and to the present day, Russia has only sought to protect its people, its future, and its sovereignty. Russia was forced to protect its interests in a weaponized way. Take for instance the heinous Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow last month. Its perpetrators, regardless of who their backers may be, want nothing more than to see the fall of Russia.
Establishment-critical narrative
Due to the West's collective failure of seeking to expand NATO eastwards to Russia's borders, it started this war which has only resulted in Ukraine losing vast swaths of territory, as well as untold numbers of men and women. Rather than continue this foolish tactic and cause more destruction, Ukraine needs to push for peace.
Nerd narrative
There's a 5% chance there will be a bilateral cease-fire or peace agreement in the Russo-Ukraine conflict in 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.