Explaining complex things in simple words: NATO air defense, Russia’s “red lines”, Russia in UNSC

NATO AIR DEFENSE

At a meeting of defense ministers of the Bucharest Nine on September 18, Romania, Poland, and Latvia appealed to NATO allies to immediately strengthen air defense measures on the eastern flank of the Alliance.

 In a joint statement, the Bucharest Nine defense ministers condemned Russia’s war against Ukraine.

 Russian aggression against Ukraine poses threats to NATO countries, including violations of airspace by Russian UAVs. Over the past month, such incidents have occurred in Latvia, Romania, and Poland.

 There is a need for collective solutions to strengthen NATO’s airspace.

 The ministers believe that NATO countries must reinforce their capability to detect, identify and neutralise low and slow-flying objects and that rotational air defence must be implemented immediately.

 Ukraine has long called on its partners to jointly protect the airspaceof Eastern Europe from Russian attacks.

RUSSIA’S “RED LINES”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is sceptical of Putin’s threats amid discussions about allowing Ukraine to launch long-range strikes on Russian territory.

 Stoltenberg has said that if Ukraine is allowed to hit targets in Russia with long-range Western missiles, it is wrong to say that NATO allies willbecome a party to the conflict.

 Similarly, the supply of North Korean and Iranian ballistic missiles to the Russians does not make the DPRK and Iran participants in the war with Ukraine.

 Putin has announced many “red lines” before, but he did not implement his threats.

 The Kremlin understands that NATO is the most powerful military alliance in the world, a collision with which will lead to the defeat of the Russian Federation.

 Granting Ukraine permission to use long-range weapons is a vital necessity for deterring the Russian aggressor and quickly establishing a stable and just peace.

RUSSIA IN UNSC

Finnish President Alexander Stubb called for reform of the UN Security Council.

 It is time to extend the number of permanent members from five to ten, adding one more from Latin America, two from Africa, and two from Asia.

 Any member of the UN Security Council who is waging an illegal war (like the Russian Federation is doing in Ukraine right now) should be expelled.

 No state should have veto power in the UN Security Council.

 Any changes in the membership of the Security Council must be approved by two-thirds of the General Assembly.

 Ukraine supports the initiative to reform the Security Council and reminds about the fact that the Russian Federation illegally occupies the place of the USSR in the UN.