Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez spoke at a NATO summit in Madrid, Spain, on Tuesday (June 28th). (NATO Pool / Getty Images)
NATO has been “naive” in its relations with Russia over the years, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told CNN on Wednesday.
Speaking at the NATO summit in Madrid, Sanchez said NATO “sends a clear message to Putin that we will support Ukraine and are ready to support Ukraine until Russian troops leave the country and they respect territorial integrity and national sovereignty.” of Ukraine. ”
“I think it is important to send this message of unity and determination to the international community, especially to NATO allies and, of course, to the G-7, to make it possible to return to a scenario in which different countries – especially Russia in this case – they respect a rules-based international order that has been undermined by this terrible war in Ukraine, “Sanchez continued.
In response to Turkey’s agreement to support Finland and Sweden’s NATO bid, Sanchez said that “Finland and Sweden’s entry into NATO is not because they want to expand their territories, but to protect their values, their democracies and, of course, an international order based on rules, clear rules that ensure the security and safety of our societies. “
Asked if it was a mistake to consider Russia a “strategic partner” even in 2010, Sanchez said that at the time, NATO had “tried to give Russia and Putin an opportunity”, but that “perhaps over the years we have been a little naive in our relations with Russia. ”
“Today, we are seeing expansionist and imperialist behavior on the part of Putin and his regime, and that is unacceptable,” he added.
“I think it is important what we now approve of at this Madrid summit, namely to identify Russia as a strategic threat to the Allies and to determine what means, the tools we will use to respond to this global threat.” said Sanchez.
Spain has sent 400 tons of “military capabilities” as well as humanitarian aid to Ukraine, he added.
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