Europe bears brunt of Russia
Time:2024-04-30 05:27:56 Source:healthViews(143)
A staff member hangs a US national flag before US President Joe Biden arrives for the European Council meeting in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]
ROME - The eastward expansion of the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) toward Russia is a major root cause of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which could take a heavy toll on the European economy, an Italian economist has said.
NATO EXPANSION RED LINE FOR RUSSIA
Michele Geraci, former undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview that the military alliance's moves have created two main problems for Russia.
"From the Russian point of view, NATO's expansion into eastern Europe is a breach of a promise" made in the 1990s, Geraci said.
"Second, Russia considers this expansion a threat to its territorial integrity and national security, so President (Vladimir) Putin for the last ten years has been saying that this is not acceptable, and that NATO has crossed a red line."
"Every country has its own red lines. For Russia, the red line was having NATO at its borders," he said.
NATO has gone through five rounds of enlargement to the east since 1999, increasing the number of its members from 16 to 30 and reaching the Russian border.
Previous:British and Irish officials meet as tensions rise over what to do with asylum seekers
Next:Top Chinese diplomat meets with executive secretary of ESCAP
You may also like
- Recently reinstated receiver Quintez Cephus signs a one
- CPC Delegate Committed to Subway Safety
- Flight Attendant Escorts Overseas Chinese on Return Home
- Hard shoulders should be brought back on smart motorways to make them safer, the RAC urges
- Popular Chinese crosstalk comedians bring laughter, cultural charisma to London
- Village Official Promotes Rural Residents' Well
- A Couple's Efforts to Build a Strong Aviation Country
- Making Communities More Beautiful
- China to hold first space cooperation forum with LatAm, Caribbean countries