Ukraine crisis to top agenda at NATO summit in Wales

World leaders will begin arriving in the UK today ahead of the start of a two-day Nato summit in Wales tomorrow. Some 61 heads of state are expected to gather at The Celtic Manor Resort outside Newport, with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine set to top the agenda of discussions. Leaders will be joined by officials from the European Union, the U.N., the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. A further 5,000 delegates are expected to gather to discuss the future of the Nato alliance. Speaking at Downing Street ahead of the summit, British Prime Minister David Cameron has condemned the ongoing violence in Ukraine, describing it as “disgraceful”.

What’s happening in the Ukraine right now is disgraceful and completely unacceptable. Members of Nato want and deserve real reassurance that our Article V commitments are rock solid.

British Prime Minister, David Cameron

Western nations have repeatedly accused Russia of intervening militarily in the conflict in Ukraine. The claims have been denied by Moscow. Nato’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the alliance is set to create a high-readiness force in Eastern Europe as a bulwark against potential Russian aggression. Mr Rasmussen said the unit would be a spearhead that could be deployed at very short notice to help Nato members defend themselves against any threat. The murder of another U.S. journalist by Islamic State militants will also feature in bilateral discussions between Western allies at the summit. U.S. President Barack Obama will head to Wales after a visit to the Baltic States.

World Nato summit