Russia threatens retaliation for Nato expansion

The Belfast Telegraph reports that Russia has spoken out categorically against Ukraine’s Nato membership bid, and has said it will retaliate if Ukraine continues on the same path.

The paper quotes Russian ambassador to the UK Yuri Fedotov. “The expansion of Nato is seen in Russia as a hostile action. We will never accept this. We cannot block expansion of Nato but we can take measures to ensure our security.”

Meanwhile, The Financial Times says that US vice president Dick Cheney has reiterated support for Georgia and firmly backed Nato membership for Ukraine.

According to the paper, Cheney’s visit to Rome on Wednesday has brought to light the strains in the relationship between the US and Italy, as Rome seems to be developing very close ties with Moscow, especially in the field of energy.

Italy is keen to convene a meeting of the Nato-Russian council as soon as possible, the joint forum inaugurated by Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, US president George Bush and then-Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2002.

And the FT, in a separate article, says that European support for Nato is on the rise, according to an annual Transatlantic Trends survey, especially after the crisis in Georgia.

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