Off the wire
• Starbucks opens on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau  • 1st LD Writethru: Explosion hits Nigeria's displaced persons camp  • China's economic growth more sustainable: Credit Suisse report  • Ukraine reports first shooting-free day since start of conflict  • Inquiry launched after Belgian rail accident injures 18 people  • Innovation, entrepreneurship to lead Chinese economy: Summer Davos attendees  • Pacific Island countries reaffirm support for Indonesia's sovereignty in Papua  • U.S. stocks open lower ahead of next week' s Fed meeting  • Chinese vice premier, U.S. treasury secretary discuss economic ties over phone  • Intense battles rage as rebels advance east of Damascus  
You are here: 　 Home

NATO not considering sending troops to Ukraine: official

Xinhua, September 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

NATO is not considering the issue of sending its troops to the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine, a senior alliance' s official said here Friday.

"There is no discussion right now, and I doubt that there would be a discussion on whether to send NATO troops to Ukraine," said James Appathurai, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, during the 12th Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference.

The alliance can only share its experience with Ukrainian troops in an attempt to help the East European country to protect itself, Appathurai said, ruling out a possibility of military involvement.

"I do not foresee direct involvement of NATO forces in Ukraine," he emphasized.

The Ukrainian government had long been seeking security assistance from NATO to help it to deal with the 17-month-old armed confrontation with insurgents in eastern regions, who seek independence from Kiev.

In late 2014, Ukraine has abandon its non-aligned status, paving the way for it to join military blocs, in a move which angered rebels and led to further escalation of tensions in eastern regions. Endi