President Obama Heads to Europe, NATO Summit to Discuss Tension in Ukraine
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) — President Obama will head to Europe on Tuesday to take part in a North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit to discuss, among other things, the continued tension caused by Russia’s incursion into Ukraine.
Obama will first land in Estonia, where he is expected to reaffirm the U.S.’ stance that Russia should not get involved in the independent nations. At his second stop, the president will meet with other NATO leaders, but without Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Wales.
While Ukraine is not a NATO member, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was invited to this week’s summit.
In a statement, NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow, highlighted the importance of “collective defense,” “crisis management” and “partnerships,” in handling the situation in Ukraine. The summit, initially planned to mark an end to the NATO combat mission in Afghanistan, will still touch on that subject as well, Vershbow said.
NATO is expected to form a “spearhead” force in response to Russian actions, which will be “ready to respond at short notice.”
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