Crisis in Ukraine: Where are the countries from Belarus to Japan? | NATO News

Ukraine has been at the forefront for almost two months, and Gathering Russian troops on its border.

Russia stresses that the troops are only there to defend the country from its deployed presence in the NATO region, but Western intelligence officials say Moscow’s military forces could signal the start of a ground invasion.

Moscow has been upset since a protest movement overthrew the pro-Russian government in 2014.

Although Russia says it has no military design, it also says that NATO should agree to escalate talks. To prevent Ukraine from uniting and the exclusion of forces from Eastern Europe.

Al Jazeera examines how the world’s powers have reacted to the rapidly evolving crisis:

United States of America

President Joe Biden has said he will personally consider imposing economic sanctions Vladimir Putin If the Russian president promises a new attack on Ukraine.

Despite warning of sanctions, the US leader said he had no “intention” of sending troops to Ukraine.

There is also the issue of energy supply, given that Russia has the largest reserves of natural gas in the world.

Leaders of the Biden administration said the US was in talks with major energy-producing countries and companies around the world to divert supplies to Europe if Russia invaded Ukraine.

European Union

European Council President Charles Michel expressed solidarity with Ukraine on Wednesday, saying: “A threat to Ukraine is a threat to Europe.”

United Kingdom

He accused the United Kingdom of building a Russian army near its border with Ukraine.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson said on Tuesday that the United Kingdom he would not hesitate Imposition of sanctions on Russia if it chooses to invade Ukraine.

“In the United Kingdom, we have no hesitation in toughening national sanctions against Russia [Vladimir] Putin can do it and the House [of Commons] we’ll hear from you soon, “Johnson said in Parliament.

Johnson said Britain would help NATO’s new deployments to protect its allies in Europe if Russia invaded Ukraine.

If Putin’s goal was to keep NATO forces away from Russia’s borders, “invading Ukraine could hardly be more contradictory,” he said.

France

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Russia would pay a high price if it decides to attack Ukraine, even though it has agreed to a dialogue with Moscow.

He also said his country was ready to send troops to Romania to serve under NATO orders, a move welcomed by Bucharest.

Germany

Germany has stated Support for Ukraine throughout the crisis, but unlike other NATO members, it has announced that it will not hand over weapons to Kiev.

In February, “the entire rural hospital will be delivered, including the necessary training, all co-financed by Germany for 5.3 million euros. [$6m]German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht recently told reporters.

“For the time being, sending weapons would not be helpful; that is the consent of the federal government,” he said.

Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach, the head of the German navy, resigned earlier in January after being set on fire at home and abroad, saying Ukraine would never reclaim the Crimean peninsula that Russia had taken over in 2014.

The Nord Stream 2 project, a Russian-owned pipeline extending from Siberia to Germany, has complicated Berlin’s position. Read more about it here.

Ukrainian soldiers line up to separate from Russian rebels near Katerinivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine [File: Andriy Dubchak/AP Photo]

Finland

Finland, a non-NATO member with a long border with Russia and a difficult history, has stepped up its military readiness in the face of Russian military forces.

Colonel Petteri Kajanmaa, head of the war department at the Finnish National Defense University, said on behalf of the armed forces that the instability in the Baltic Sea region stemmed from Russia’s surprise.

“They are [the Russians] they have made their goals clear, but we do not know what action they are taking, ”he said.

Belarus

Belarus, close to Putin’s ally, borders Russia and Ukraine.

President Alexander Lukashenko is strengthening military forces on the Ukrainian border and will soon hold joint exercises with Russia.

“I was forced to [to] do it because the situation on the Ukrainian border is no better than on the Polish border, ”he said. The recent crisis of migrants.

Lukashenko said the maneuvers with Russia would take place on the western border of Belarus and in the southern part of the country, where it borders Ukraine.

Washington has warned Minsk that its government will retaliate if it helps Russia invade Ukraine.

Italy

The Italian defense minister said his country would live up to NATO’s commitments in the Ukraine crisis, stressing the need for a peaceful solution.

The Italian Defense Ministry said it was committed to holding talks with Moscow on Tuesday, stressing talks in the search for a peaceful solution.

At the same time, President Putin made a video call with Italian businessmen aimed at strengthening economic relations.

Croatia

Croatia has sent mixed signals.

President Zoran Milanovic said on Tuesday that Croatia would leave Ukraine “one of the most corrupt countries in the world” if it conflicts with Russia.

“All this is happening in Russia’s front room,” the president said, adding that “an agreement must be reached that will take into account Russia’s security needs.”

The dismissal prompted the ouster of Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Tuesday, according to the Hina news agency.

“I would like to apologize to Ukraine on behalf of the Croatian government,” he said, noting that Ukraine was one of the first countries in 1991 to recognize Croatia’s status as a result of the break-up of Yugoslavia.

A Ukrainian soldier washes a gun near the village of Avdiivka, not far from Donetsk, in front-line positions controlled by pro-Russian fighters. [Stanislav Kozliuk/EPA]

Japan

Japan has announced that it will cooperate with the United States if Russia invades Ukraine.

A discussion with the United States about what would happen in the event of an invasion at a teleconference summit last week, a Japanese government spokesman said.

Romania

President Klaus Iohannis said Romania was in talks with the United States and France to improve the number of troops in its country, and said it was ready to increase NATO’s military presence.

“I have constantly said that we are ready to increase the presence of allies in our territory,” Iohannis said.

“The current crisis proves once again … that it is very important to strengthen the presence of internal allies in our country on the east wing,” he said.