With the world’s give attention to Ukraine and what Russia will do subsequent, NATO’s headquarters in Brussels has been on excessive alert.

The White Home’s eyes and ears on the bottom on the navy alliance’s base belong to Julianne Smith, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, who spoke to Euronews solely in regards to the ongoing battle between Kyiv and Moscow.

Was NATO ready for a Russian invasion?

“The alliance was ready truly for this. We mainly, for a number of months now right here at NATO’s HQ, we have been pursuing a sort of a dual-track technique. So, on the one hand, the allies have been very centered on diplomacy and de-escalation – we held a NATO-Russia Council in early January the place we have been in a position to sit down head to head with the Russians.

“However concurrently, what was taking place behind the scenes was that NATO’s allies have been additionally getting ready for all contingencies. They have been methods they may want sooner or later to strengthen NATO’s jap flank. And so they have been imagining the steps that they may should take ought to Russia resolve to additional invade Ukraine.

“So when that truly got here to move, I believe the NATO allies felt like at that second they have been able to take the mandatory steps to guard NATO’s territory. And what we have seen actually within the final couple of days is a exceptional sequence of occasions because it pertains to NATO’s and NATO’s allies’ actions.”

Was it a mistake to belief Putin in diplomatic talks?

“Clearly, you needed to have a second to make sure that you would make the case to the Russians that de-escalation was the popular and the most effective plan of action. Sadly, they opted for an additional route. However we needed to exhaust all doable choices on the diplomatic entrance, and you’ll see that we did that bilaterally.

“The U.S. engaged the Russians in Geneva and elsewhere. We had NATO’s participating with the NATO-Russia Council, and the OSCE was participating as properly. So all of us made a very good religion effort at diplomacy, and once more, sadly, they opted for an additional plan of action.

Does Ukraine stand any likelihood of profitable this struggle?

“It is exhausting to make any predictions at this level. I believe what we’d say is we’re in awe of the resilience and the braveness that we’re seeing displayed by on a regular basis Ukrainians, by the federal government, by the armed forces. It is actually been exceptional to observe. It is also been reassuring in my thoughts to see all NATO’s allies, on this second, offering help to Ukrainians that takes completely different kinds, relying on the NATO’s ally and query.

“However NATO and the EU collectively are rising to this problem and offering assist to cease the struggle, to cease Vladimir Putin. I do not know what’s going to in the end cease the struggle. We hope Vladimir Putin will cease the struggle. It’s on him. The one means out of that is for Moscow to cease invading. Cease these crushing assaults on cities throughout Ukraine. We wish Russian forces to go away. We wish to see a cease-fire. And all of us proceed to drive that message residence to Moscow.

What about Putin’s nuclear threats?

“Clearly, what we heard popping out of Moscow on their intent to extend the readiness or the alert stage of their nuclear forces was extremely provocative, harmful, troubling. We’re fearful that this may enhance the possibility of miscalculation.

“NATO, nonetheless, and the US, neither one desires to have any form of battle with Russia. And as you have heard, colleagues of mine again in Washington state, we do not make any changes to our alert ranges at this level.”

Is NATO membership for Ukraine nonetheless an possibility?

“Ukraine is a accomplice to this alliance and has a really shut relationship with the alliance. We have been working with Ukraine over a few years now on making certain that they’ll take the mandatory steps for membership. We have been crystal clear in our messaging each to the Russians in early January and on the summit communique final summer season that the door to slender enlargement stays open and Russia doesn’t have a veto over that course of.

“So we imagine right here at NATO that the enlargement determination rests squarely with the aspirant nation, on this case, Ukraine and the 30 members of the alliance. It has nothing to do with Russia or Moscow’s views.”