NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen has assured Ukraine of the Atlantic Alliance’s support, the secretary general conferring with Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk on security in the face of Russia’s stance contesting the new authorities in Kyiv.
Rasmussen spoke of standing by Ukraine on the principles of supporting national sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law, in what he said was the most serious menace to European security since the end of the Cold War.
Ukraine is not one of NATO’s 28 member states.
Yatsenyuk said that although military options were not on the table, it was up to Russia to take the first step backwards to de-escalate tensions.
American, Romanian and Bulgarian naval forces are coordinating training together in the Black Sea.
On Tuesday, the NATO allies came together at the request of Poland, which borders both Russia and Ukraine.
Warsaw had expressed concern about possible regional actions by Moscow.
Washington has stepped up NATO air policing over the Baltics, seeking to reassure allies without escalating the Ukraine crisis.
