NATO Threats To Impose Sanctions If Russia Invades Ukraine: They Are Not Transparent

Illustration of the Russian military on the Ukrainian border. (Wikimedia Commons/Anton Holoborodko)

JAKARTA - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned Russia not to use force against Ukraine on Wednesday, telling Reuters if Moscow knew it would pay a high price through sanctions and other measures by the West for any aggression.

Ukraine, a former Soviet republic that now aspires to join the European Union and NATO, has become a major flashpoint between Russia and the West as relations deteriorated to their worst level in three decades since the Cold War ended.

"We all made it very clear that there will be a high price to pay and sanctions are one of the options," Stoltenberg said in an interview at the Reuters Next conference.

"I think it's pretty clear that the Russians already knew they were going to pay a higher price," Stoltenberg added.

Stoltenberg said the new economic sanctions against Russia, which the European Union and the United States could implement along with Britain and Canada, were a powerful tool.

In addition, Stoltenberg said it was common knowledge that allies were providing military support to Ukraine and this was defensive in nature and in line with the international obligations of all allies. Ukraine is considered a close partner of NATO, but is not yet a member of the 30-member Western alliance.

Meanwhile, Russia has said it has no intention of invading Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would be forced to act if US-led NATO placed missiles in Ukraine that could strike Moscow within minutes.

Stoltenberg rejected accusations the alliance was provoking Moscow with military exercises in the Black Sea, instead, blaming Russia for using military drills as a disguise to attack neighboring countries.

Unlike Russia, NATO has always followed rules to invite foreign observers to its exercises, said Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister who will leave NATO's top post at the end of next year.

"The problem with Russia is, they are not transparent, that they have very aggressive rhetoric and a track record that shows they have used previous military exercises as a cover for aggressive actions against their neighbours," Stoltenberg said.

Stoltenberg added that the Western alliance was working closely to protect allies against new missiles from China and Russia that could reach Europe as well as North America.

"Russia, but also China, is now investing heavily in nuclear-capable systems that can reach all NATO countries. This is something we have to take very seriously," he said, citing Russian investment in long-range, high-speed, and maneuverable missiles.