Your current location:HOME >health >Europe bears brunt of Russia 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 11:04:16 Source: Internet compilationEdit:health
A staff member hangs a US national flag before US President Joe Biden arrives for the European Counc
A staff member hangs a US national flag before US President Joe Biden arrives for the European Council meeting in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]
ROME - The eastward expansion of the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) toward Russia is a major root cause of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which could take a heavy toll on the European economy, an Italian economist has said.
NATO EXPANSION RED LINE FOR RUSSIA
Michele Geraci, former undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview that the military alliance's moves have created two main problems for Russia.
"From the Russian point of view, NATO's expansion into eastern Europe is a breach of a promise" made in the 1990s, Geraci said.
"Second, Russia considers this expansion a threat to its territorial integrity and national security, so President (Vladimir) Putin for the last ten years has been saying that this is not acceptable, and that NATO has crossed a red line."
"Every country has its own red lines. For Russia, the red line was having NATO at its borders," he said.
NATO has gone through five rounds of enlargement to the east since 1999, increasing the number of its members from 16 to 30 and reaching the Russian border.
Four people killed in a house explosion in southwestern Missouri2024-05-21 11:03
China's 172024-05-21 10:52
Ukraine says to agree on military aid from US as loan2024-05-21 10:47
Tulips seen at Volcji Potok Arboretum in Slovenia2024-05-21 10:33
Storms damage homes in Oklahoma and Kansas. But in Houston, most power is restored2024-05-21 10:15
China's Qin leads field into men's 50m breaststroke final at Aquatics Worlds2024-05-21 09:45
Members of Team Indonesia attend departure ceremony for Chengdu Universiade2024-05-21 09:33
IAEA chief calls for maximum restraint over Zaporizhzhia attacks2024-05-21 09:30
Everybody may love Raymond, but Ray Romano loves Peter Boyle2024-05-21 09:29
'Lanting' cultural salon in Auckland celebrates Chinese calligraphy, traditions2024-05-21 09:20
Young Boys seals 6th Swiss soccer league title in 7 years after rallying from firing coach Wicky2024-05-21 10:59
Early settlement of situation on China2024-05-21 10:43
Mother charged with murdering five2024-05-21 10:15
Singapore PM Lee to step down on May 15 and hand power to his deputy2024-05-21 10:08
With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain2024-05-21 09:42
Surging popularity of Chinese books at Bangkok Int'l Book Fair2024-05-21 09:28
More Buddha statues found in northern Laos2024-05-21 09:07
Nation's rich cultural heritage continues to captivate2024-05-21 08:35
Yu Darvish extends scoreless innings streak to 25 in Padres' 92024-05-21 08:25
Beijing International Film Festival to feature French film week2024-05-21 08:24