Russia is trying to use disinformation throughout the Western Balkans and NATO to undermine the Alliance and prevent it from supporting Ukraine, NATO Deputy Secretary General Boris Ruge said.
In an interview with the MINA agency, Ruge, commenting on Russian influence in Montenegro and the region, said that Russia is leading a hybrid campaign that goes beyond disinformation.
"And that even includes things like sabotage to undermine us and prevent us from supporting Ukraine," Ruge said.
He pointed out that, despite this, NATO continues to support Ukraine.
"And this is what we will do in the future," said Ruge.
When asked whether the war in Ukraine could end soon, Ruge pointed out that NATO's goal is for Ukraine to remain a sovereign state.
"NATO is helping the Ukrainians to end this war and to reach peace, to stop suffering, but not on the basis of Ukrainian surrender," Ruge said.
As he added, Russian President Vladimir Putin would end the war tomorrow if Ukraine surrendered.
"That's not what we want. We want Ukraine to survive as a sovereign and politically independent nation, and that is why we are supporting Ukraine militarily," said Ruge.
He pointed out that it is a very challenging situation.
"Russia is a big country, it has huge resources, it lost 100 thousand soldiers in Ukraine - dead and wounded. But Putin is clearly fixated on winning this war and suppressing Ukraine as an independent nation," said Ruge.
He said that they will continue to support Ukraine to stay in the fight and to survive, adding that it is a difficult fight.
Speaking about Montenegro, Ruge said that it has been a NATO member state for more than seven years and that it has contributed to numerous missions and operations, including KFOR, which is very important at this time.
"Montenegro is a highly valued ally of the Alliance and we are proud to have it as an ally," said Ruge.
When asked about the current Montenegrin government, which is made up of former fierce opponents of Montenegro's membership in NATO and political entities that have an attitude towards the war in Ukraine that is different from the one that the Alliance advocates, Ruge pointed to meaningful conversations with Montenegrin officials during visits to the country which, as he emphasized, they plan to continue.
Reminding that, as the Deputy Secretary General of NATO, he avoids commenting on yesterday's policy of member states, Ruge said that NATO has existed for 75 years and has 32 allies.
"Throughout the history of the Alliance, there have been various periods, debates and certain critical views on NATO," said Ruge.
Asked about the visits of certain political leaders to Russia, in the midst of the war in Ukraine, Ruge pointed to the Washington Declaration, which contains NATO's position towards Russian aggression against Ukraine, and reminded that Montenegro also supported that document.
"The position of NATO can be read in the Washington Declaration. This was supported by the Government of Montenegro, and this is the basis on which we work," Ruge emphasized.
He said that there is no limit for politicians to do this and reminded that not long after the full-scale Russian invasion, the leaders of Germany and France had contacts with Putin.
"NATO will not tell the leaders that they must not have such communication, but we have a clear position on the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine," said Ruge.
Asked how he sees the security situation in the Western Balkans and what he sees as the main threats, Ruge pointed to the situation in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which have recently attracted attention.
"We told the representatives of the institutions in Kosovo that we do not want unilateral actions that could create tensions, and on the other hand we made it clear to the Government of Serbia that we want responsible action, to ensure responsibility for the attacks on KFOR troops and the attack in Banjska" , Ruge said.
He reminded that NATO has five thousand soldiers in Kosovo, stating that through a military operation they can play their role in maintaining a safe and secure environment.
"I think that through political dialogue and through our soldiers on the ground, we feel that we can influence and control the situation," Ruge said.
He stated that, when it comes to Bosnia and Herzegovina, they do not want a security vacuum to appear there, reminding that NATO has invested in that country for 30 years.
"We are against anyone who tries to undermine the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina," said Ruge, recalling the arrival of the NATO headquarters in Sarajevo and the Alliance's close cooperation with the European Union.
He emphasized that Serbia is a key player in the region, stating that NATO wants Serbia to act responsibly.
"Serbia is a partner of NATO and we want them to behave responsibly and not support actors like the president of the Bosnian entity Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, who is trying to undermine the state and question its territorial integrity," said Ruge.
Commenting on the Russian influence in Montenegro and the region, Ruge said that it can be seen that Russia is trying to use disinformation throughout the Western Balkans, but also throughout NATO, in order to undermine NATO.
"Russia is running a hybrid campaign that goes beyond disinformation and even includes things like sabotage to undermine us and prevent us from supporting Ukraine," Ruge said.
He pointed out that, despite this, NATO continues to support Ukraine.
"And this is what we will do in the future," said Ruge.
When asked whether the war in Ukraine could end soon, Ruge pointed out that NATO's goal is for Ukraine to remain a sovereign state.
"NATO is helping the Ukrainians to end this war and to reach peace, to stop suffering, but not on the basis of Ukrainian surrender," Ruge said.
As he added, Putin would end the war tomorrow if Ukraine surrendered.
"That's not what we want. We want Ukraine to survive as a sovereign and politically independent nation, and that is why we are supporting Ukraine militarily," said Ruge.
He pointed out that it is a very challenging situation.
"Russia is a big country, it has huge resources, it lost 100 thousand soldiers in Ukraine - dead and wounded. But Putin is clearly fixated on winning this war and suppressing Ukraine as an independent nation," said Ruge.
He said that they will continue to support Ukraine to stay in the fight and to survive, adding that it is a difficult fight.
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