Ukraine made significant progress in the face of the Russian invasion but we must not underestimate Russia, whose missiles continue to attack cities, civilians and Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a press conference at the end of the NATO Foreign Ministers’ meeting, in Bucharest. He also said that the NATO accession of Finland and Sweden is almost complete. As far as China is concerned, Stoltenberg said NATO does not see China as an enemy and that he will hold talks with Beijing when it is in the Alliance’s best interest, but pointed out that dependence on China should be decreased and vulnerabilities diminished. The NATO official thanked Romania for being an excellent host to the Allies’ meeting in Bucharest, which shows the country’s strong commitment to NATO. In turn, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana voiced confidence the allied battlegroup in Romania will reach brigade-level and that, until the NATO summit in Vilnius next year, Romania and the countries on the eastern flank will have additional elements to reconfirm that not a single inch of allied territory is left unprotected. The Romanian Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, pointed out that the situation in the Black Sea needs closer monitoring given the unpredictability of Russia’s behaviour.
