NATO blames Russia for stirring up conflict in Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine

Russia is challenging international order by stirring up conflict in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, says a top NATO representative.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO’s Secretary General, said rules-based international order was being challenged by Russia and the world should not sit by and watch Russia continue to disrupt world peace.

In an opinion piece published in the Financial Times, Rasmussen blamed Russia for causing conflict in the three countries.

"Ever since the collapse of Communism, NATO has made efforts to engage with Moscow, offering more cooperation on more issues than to any other non-NATO country, and striving towards a strategic partnership,” he wrote yesterday.

"Russia’s response has been to tear up the rule book, stir up conflict in Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, and challenge the rules-based international order. Russian-backed separatists have been linked to the tragic loss of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. This pattern of behaviour has made our world a more dangerous and unpredictable place.”

The Secretary General said Russia’s actions could not be ignored.

"The post-cold-war world order is at stake,” he said.

"So NATO is needed more than ever. In Wales [at the upcoming NATO Summit] we are determined to show that NATO means business.”