UPDATE - Civilian killings in Bucha, Ukraine show 'unbearable brutality': NATO

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY NATO CHIEF

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) – Civilian killings in the Ukrainian city of Bucha near the capital Kyiv show an "unbearable brutality" that Europe has not seen for decades, the NATO chief said on Tuesday.

"We have all seen the horrific images of murdered civilians in Bucha and other places controlled by the Russian military until a few days ago. This is unbearable brutality that Europe has not witnessed in many decades," Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a press conference ahead of a two-day NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on the Russian war in Ukraine.

"Targeting and murdering civilians is a war crime," Stoltenberg said, adding that those responsible for "these atrocities must be brought to justice."

He said Russian President Vladimir Putin's lack of respect for the rule of law and basic human rights showed the nature of his war, which he said poses "the most serious security challenge we have faced since the Second World War."

It has triggered a “very comprehensive and strong response from the whole NATO alliance," Stoltenberg added.

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the killings in Bucha could be labeled genocide, Russia denies that its troops killed civilians while withdrawing from towns near Kyiv.

Russia's war against Ukraine, which started on Feb. 24, has drawn international outrage, with the European Union, US and UK, among others, implementing tough sanctions on Moscow.

At least 1,430 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 2,097 injured, according to UN estimates, with the true figure feared to be far higher.

More than 4.21 million Ukrainians have also fled to other countries, with over 7 million more internally displaced, according to UN agencies.

- Russia prepping for 'major' offensive to take Donbas

Stoltenberg also warned about a new "major" Russian offensive expected to take place in a few weeks meant to seize the entire Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.

Russian troops are pulling back from Kyiv to "regroup, rearm and resupply" and are planning a major offensive to take Donbas in the coming weeks, he said.

Donbas has been wracked by Russian-backed separatists since 2014 in a conflict that took some 13,000 lives. Before launching the Ukraine war on Feb. 24, Russia recognized two separatist enclaves in Donbas – Luhansk and Donetsk – as independent states.

"Moscow has not given up its ambitions in Ukraine," said Stoltenberg. "We now see a significant movement of troops away from Kyiv to regroup, rearm and resupply and to shift their focus to the east.

"In the coming weeks, we expect further Russian troops in the eastern and southern Ukraine to try to take the entire Donbas and to create a land bridge to occupied Crimea."

That is why it is "extremely important" that NATO allies provide support to Kyiv so Ukrainian forces can be rearmed and resupplied, the NATO chief said, adding that this will be discussed by allies during the meetings.

Stoltenberg said Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will also join the meetings on Thursday to update NATO on the latest developments.

Finland, Sweden, Georgia along with NATO's Asia Pacific partners Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea will take part in the meetings as "this crisis has global implications," he said.

Asked whether he agrees with Zelenskyy's remarks that there will be no peace until all Russian troops leave Ukraine, Stoltenberg said NATO allies are determined to deliver further support to Ukraine but Kyiv should determine the terms of peace with Moscow itself.

On the possibility of sending NATO troops and planes to Ukraine, he said: "Our allies agree that we should not send NATO troops into Ukraine, and we should not send NATO planes into Ukrainian airspace.

"That's because we also have the responsibility to prevent a war between Russia and NATO," Stoltenberg said, adding that sending NATO troops and planes would cause "more destruction and danger."

The NATO chief also said the allies will discuss the military alliance's next strategic concept, which will guide the alliance to adapt to a new security reality, in time for the Madrid summit in June.

Besides addressing the implications of Russia's aggressive actions and NATO's future relationship with Moscow, he said the concept will also consider China's growing influence and coercive policies on the global stage, climate change, terrorism, and emerging and disruptive technologies.