Ukrainian servicemenKIEV, Jan 17Ukraine is counting on political assistance from NATO, not military, said Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny. «NATO is not only a military, but also a political alliance. I understand that it is impossible to receive military assistance or involve their military in operations on the territory of Ukraine. Everyone understands this, and not only military personnel. We rely on the political influence of NATO. For the rest, we rely on our own strength,» Zaluzhny said in an interview with the Ukrinform news agency. According to him, Kiev is counting on the alliance's political support.In Kiev, they demanded to name the opponents of Ukraine's entry into NATO»All we hope for and what we want is for the member countries of the alliance to make appropriate movements in the political dimension in order to deprive the Russian Federation of the opportunity to attract more significant forces and launch a new offensive against Ukraine. NATO allies have appropriate leverage and opportunities for this,» Zaluzhny added. Russia has repeatedly rejected accusations of the West and Ukraine of «aggressive actions», stating that it does not threaten anyone and is not going to attack anyone, and statements about «aggression RF» are being used as an excuse to deploy more NATO military equipment near Russian borders. The Russian Foreign Ministry previously noted that Western statements about «Russian aggression» and the possibility of helping Kiev defend itself against it are both ridiculous and dangerous. >Stoltenberg named the reason for NATO's eastward expansion At the same time, Kiev and Western states have recently expressed concern about the alleged increase in «aggressive actions» from Russia near the borders of Ukraine. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is moving troops within its territory and at its own discretion. According to him, this does not threaten anyone and should not worry anyone. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in December 2014 amended two laws, refusing the non-bloc status of the state. In February 2019, the Ukrainian parliament adopted amendments to the constitution, securing the country's course towards the EU and NATO. Ukraine has become the sixth NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner.
