NATO, Ukraine to Hold Emergency Meeting
Facts
- Officials from NATO and Ukraine will convene for emergency talks Tuesday, diplomats told journalists from AFP on Friday.[1]
- It follows a week in which Russia-US relations escalated following two policy reversals from the outgoing Biden administration — allowing Ukraine to use long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS, on Russia's Kursk region; as well as a commitment to provide Ukraine with anti-personnel mines. Russia took particular issue with the former.[2][3]
- On Thursday, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin confirmed his country's use of a hypersonic, intermediate-range ballistic missile on Ukraine in an attack on Dnipro. In a video address, Putin said the use of an 'Oreshnik' missile came after Russia's warnings on the use of US- and UK-made weapons on its territory went ignored.[3][4]
- Ukrainian military officials said the missile that hit the Dnipro military site — a Soviet-built plant that now serves as one of Ukraine's largest military hubs — had reached a speed of Mach 11 and carried six non-nuclear warheads, each releasing six submunitions.[5]
- On Friday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the Russia-Ukraine conflict was 'entering a decisive phase,' adding that it was 'taking on very dramatic dimensions.'[5]
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: 'The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined.'[5]
Sources: [1]Kyiv Post, [2]Verity (a), [3]Verity (b), [4]President of Russia and [5]Associated Press.
Narratives
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Kyiv Post. These emergency NATO-Ukraine talks follow Russia's escalation of the conflict by using a nuclear-capable weapon. Russia has escalated at every turn in the conflict, but this will not dissuade Western allies from supporting Ukraine.
- Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. While Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin has no contact with the present US administration, in his address this week, he clearly set out the Russian position. Russia is confident these positions were understood by the US.