BERLIN, January 25. /TASS/. The leaders of key NATO countries, including Germany, warned late on Monday that any aggression against Ukraine would entail serious consequences, German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit has told reporters.
"All participants expressed great concern about large-scale movements of Russian troops and about the escalation caused by Russia. Together, they expressed the opinion that Russia should take meaningful steps towards de-escalation," the German government spokesperson said.
"All participants were also united in the opinion that issues of security and stability in Europe should be resolved through negotiations. They confirmed readiness to continue relevant diplomatic efforts, including within the framework of Germany and France’s efforts in the Normandy Format," Hebestreit continued.
"At the same time, the participants reaffirmed unlimited support to sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. They agreed that Russia’s new aggression against Ukraine will have very serious consequences," he added.
The West and Kiev have recently been spreading allegations about Russia’s potential ‘invasion’ of Ukraine. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov castigated these claims as "empty and unfounded," serving as a ploy to escalate tensions, pointing out that Russia did not pose any threat whatsoever to anyone. However, Peskov did not rule out the possibility of provocations aimed at justifying such allegations and warned that attempts to use military force to resolve the crisis in southeastern Ukraine would have serious consequences.