NATO Denies Plans For The Presence Of Allied Combat Serdads In Ukraine

ILLUSTRATION/PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM @ukraine.ua

JAKARTA - The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has no plans to send combat ground troops to Ukraine despite the fact that several member states have sent a number of uniformed military personnel to Kiev, Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday (21/4).

"There are no plans for a NATO combat presence in Ukraine but, of course, some NATO ally countries have uniformed men and women at their respective embassies giving advice," the NATO Secretary-General told MSNBC.

Stoltenberg argues the presence of allied military personnel in Ukraine does not make alliances or member states involved in the conflict.

The Norwegian official also confirmed that the military aid flowing to Ukraine from NATO allies, including funds amounting to USD 61 billion (approximately IDR 990 trillion) passed by the US House of Representatives on Saturday (20/4), was not a charity fund.

"We have to remember that the military support provided by NATO allies, the United States to Ukraine is not a charity. This is an investment for our own security," he said.

Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder revealed on Saturday that Washington was considering sending more military advisers to the Defense Cooperation Office at the US Embassy in Kiev.

Ryder said the office carried out a mission of providing non-fight advice and support even though it was managed primarily by Defense Department personnel.