NATO to sanction Russia as Ukraine heads into peace talks

NATO leaders are expected to announce a raft of fresh sanctions against Russia on Friday over its actions in Ukraine, although hopes remain that a ceasefire can be forged at peace talks in Minsk on the same day. The leaders are heading into the second and final day of a NATO summit in Newport, Wales that has been labelled the most critical since the end of the Cold War for the Western military alliance as it addresses a multitude of crises from Ukraine to Iraq to Afghanistan. They agreed on Thursday to set up new funds to help Ukraine’s military effort and treat wounded soldiers in a five-month conflict that has seen more than 2,600 people killed. EU and U.S. officials said sanctions against Russia would be announced on Friday in response to a major escalation of Russian military support to the rebels in eastern Ukraine in recent days. But they added implementation could be delayed pending the ceasefire talks in Minsk.

While talking about peace, Russia has not made one single step to make peace possible. Instead of de-escalating the crisis, Russia has only deepened it.

NATO chief, Anders Fogh Rasmussen

But Rasmussen left open the door to a seven-point peace plan put forward on Wednesday by Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying: “If we are witnessing genuine efforts for a political solution, I would welcome it”. Ukraine’s President, Petro Poroshenko said he was hopeful about the plan because the initiative had come from pro-Moscow rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine, but said it would be a “tough challenge.” Poroshenko said some NATO members would cooperate with Ukraine on “non-lethal and lethal military items”, although he did not specify which countries were involved and whether it would include direct arms supplies. And while Ukraine tops the agenda at the two-day talks, the 28 NATO leaders must also tackle the menace of Islamist extremists in Iraq and Syria, and a problematic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

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