Sec-Gen Stoltenberg: NATO allies call on Russia to withdraw forces from Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that NATO allies have called on Russia to withdraw forces from Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova at a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council held earlier today.

Stoltenberg pointed out that the Russian military forces in Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova are 'uninvited and not welcomed.'

Russia has military forces in Georgia, in Ukraine, in Crimea, and also in Moldova. And these forces are there without the consent of the governments of these countries... NATO Allies also in the meeting today, called on Russia to withdraw those forces and to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia, of Ukraine, of Moldova, he told the press.

• Sec-Gen Stoltenberg: NATO will continue supporting Georgia, Ukraine towards Euro-Atlantic integration

Stoltenberg noted that during the meeting, Russia raised the proposals they published in December, urging NATO to stop admitting new members to the Alliance and to withdraw forces from Eastern allies.

However, the Alliance reaffirmed the 'right for each nation to choose its own security arrangements.'

???? LIVE SOON

????️ Press conference following the meeting of the #NATO-#Russia Council

????@NATO HQ, Brussels https://t.co/BbtTepvEDf

— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) January 12, 2022