[Epoch Times, March 14, 2022](Epoch Times reporter Xia Yu comprehensive report) On Sunday (March 13), Russia attacked a Ukrainian military base just over ten miles from the Polish border. Later, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan warned in an interview that if Russia attacks Poland, whether intentional or not, NATO will respond comprehensively.
“If (Russia) launches a military attack on NATO territory that would lead to an invocation of Article 5, we would use the full force of the NATO alliance to respond,” Sullivan told CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday. Article 5 states that if any NATO member is the victim of an armed attack, all other members will consider it an attack on all members.
Earlier on Sunday, Russia launched an attack on the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security in Yavoriv, believed to be Moscow’s attack on the westernmost tip of Ukraine. At least 35 people were killed and 134 injured in the attack, Reuters quoted regional governor Maksym Kozytskyy as saying.
Sullivan also reiterated President Biden’s vow that the United States and its allies will “defend every inch” of NATO territory, even in the event of an accidental or unintentional Russian attack.
“What I’m saying is that if Russia attacks, fires, fires on NATO territory, the NATO alliance will respond to that,” Sullivan said.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby also spoke on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday about the latest Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian air bases. He said Russia appeared to be “expanding the (attack) targeting” and the airstrikes were gradually approaching the Polish border, the starting point of NATO’s eastern flank.
Kirby said it was the third Russian airstrike on military installations and airports in western Ukraine in the past few days.
“We’ve been looking at NATO’s eastern flank and that airspace … we continue to look for ways to strengthen our defenses against NATO allies, we continue to look for ways to protect that airspace,” he said.
Asked about Russia’s concerns about Poland moving westward, Kirby reiterated the Biden administration’s pledge that the United States and its allies would protect NATO territory.
“We made it clear to Russia that NATO territory is not only defended by the United States, but also by our allies,” Kirby said.
“We condemn the Russian Federation’s missile attack on the Javoriv International Peacekeeping and Security Center, located near the Ukraine-Poland border,” U.S. Secretary of State Blinken tweeted on Sunday. “Atrocities must stop.”
Britain said the incident marked a “significant escalation” of the conflict.
A day earlier, Moscow warned Western countries, including the United States, that the Russian military would consider troops transporting weapons to Ukraine as legitimate targets. Sullivan responded on Sunday that the U.S. would continue to support Ukrainian troops with military aid.
Sullivan said: “We believe we have the ability to continue to provide substantial military assistance, weapons and supplies to the Ukrainian front. We have done so successfully so far. Despite the Russian threat, we believe we have a system that allows We continue to do so.”
“We believe that these weapons have played an important role in helping Ukrainians to defend themselves. Of course, we are only helping to provide the tools. The courage, valour and front-line skills of these fighters ultimately decides everything, and the courage and skills of ordinary Ukrainian citizens, stand up Defending their towns and cities is what counts and we will continue to support their efforts to ensure that making Ukraine (war) a strategic failure for Putin,” he said.
Responsible editor: Li Qiong#