Obama asksNato toprotectUkraine

US vows to protect alliance partners who fear aggression

USPresidentBarackObama urged Nato yesterday to help strengthen Ukraine’s military and said the alliance must leave the door open to new members to counter what he called Russian aggression.

He vigorously vowed to come to the defence of Nato allies that fear they could be Vladimir Putin’s next target.

“You lost your independence once before,” Obama said following meetings with Baltic leaders in the Estonian capital of Tallinn. “With Nato, you’ll never lose it again.”

Obama, whowill attend aNato summit in Wales today, accused Russia of a ‘ brazen assault’ on Ukraine, which for five months has been fighting pro- Russian separatists that Moscow describes as a defence force warding offUkrainian aggressors.

“Nato must make concrete commitments to help Ukraine modernize and strengthen its security forces. We must do more to help other Nato partners, including Georgia and Moldova, strengthen their defenses aswell,” he said a speech to a packed concert hall in the Estonian capital. “And we must reaffirm the principle that has always guided our alliance, for countries that meet our standards and that can make meaningful contributions to allied security, the door to Natomembership will remain open,” he said aftermeeting the leaders of the three ex- Soviet Baltic states.

The summit will seek to address five core issues which include the crisis in Ukraine and Nato’s relationship with Russia; Afghanistan’s future; tackling new threats; strengthening support for armed forces and strengthening partnerships.