It’s important for Georgia to conform to democratic values that we all believe in - Stoltenberg

It’s important for Georgia to conform to democratic values that we all believe in - Stoltenberg

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday said it was “important” for Georgia to conform to the “democratic values that we all believe in” and would uphold the international sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine not to “make it easier for Russia to finance and organize an aggressive war against Ukraine”. 

 

He also said Russia's aggressive actions against its neighbors had not started through its invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and later in 2022, but its conflict with Georgia in 2008. 

 

“[Russia] wanted to re-establish spheres of influence to control its neighbors. And of course, that is not the world we want to live in because it means many post-Soviet republics will not have independence, which, we believe, every country should have”, Stoltenberg said. 

 

Stoltenberg noted the countries which Russia perceived as its sphere of influence were more “vulnerable” to the Kremlin’s aggression, adding “that is why NATO decided to strengthen what we do for these countries at Madrid Summit, and Georgia is one of the clear examples”.





NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday said it was “important” for Georgia to conform to the “democratic values that we all believe in” and would uphold the international sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine not to “make it easier for Russia to finance and organize an aggressive war against Ukraine”. 

 

He also said Russia's aggressive actions against its neighbors had not started through its invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and later in 2022, but its conflict with Georgia in 2008. 

 

“[Russia] wanted to re-establish spheres of influence to control its neighbors. And of course, that is not the world we want to live in because it means many post-Soviet republics will not have independence, which, we believe, every country should have”, Stoltenberg said. 

 

Stoltenberg noted the countries which Russia perceived as its sphere of influence were more “vulnerable” to the Kremlin’s aggression, adding “that is why NATO decided to strengthen what we do for these countries at Madrid Summit, and Georgia is one of the clear examples”.