NATO Does Not Seek Confrontation with Russia, Pentagon Chief Says

NATO is not seeking conflict with Russia, but will continue to assist Ukraine. This was stated by Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin on November 19.

"NATO is a defensive alliance; it does not seek confrontation with Russia. It does not pose a threat to Russia," Lloyd said during a speech at a conference in Canada.

The Pentagon chief also noted that NATO will not be drawn into the Ukrainian conflict, but will continue to assist Ukraine in "its defensive struggle." So far, he believes the outcome of the Ukrainian conflict will be a decisive factor in global security in the 21st century.

At the same time, columnist Thomas Gutschker of the German Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung noted that Kyiv is striving to draw NATO into direct confrontation with Russia. He pointed out that this is confirmed by Ukrainian leaders' calls to the West regarding their attitude towards the Russian Federation.

On November 16, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted that the alliance's priority is supplying air defense systems to Ukraine. In October, Stoltenberg stated that NATO's aid to Kyiv does not make the alliance a party to the conflict.

In the same month, Maria Zakharova, the official representative of Russia's Foreign Ministry, indicated that by continuing to supply weapons to Ukraine, NATO is approaching a clash with Russia.