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Get tough with Russia, MPs urge | Get tough with Russia, MPs urge |
(1 day later) | |
The UK and other Nato members should take a tougher approach to Russia, the Commons Defence Committee has urged. | The UK and other Nato members should take a tougher approach to Russia, the Commons Defence Committee has urged. |
The MPs said that while co-operation was needed on many issues, it should not mean "accepting the legitimacy of a Russian sphere of influence." | The MPs said that while co-operation was needed on many issues, it should not mean "accepting the legitimacy of a Russian sphere of influence." |
The UK should continue to call on Moscow to withdraw its forces from Georgian territory, the report adds. | The UK should continue to call on Moscow to withdraw its forces from Georgian territory, the report adds. |
Ministers were also urged to take a "more robust approach" about Russian incursions into airspace near the UK. | Ministers were also urged to take a "more robust approach" about Russian incursions into airspace near the UK. |
It said the flights were "not the actions of a friendly nation and risk escalating tension". | It said the flights were "not the actions of a friendly nation and risk escalating tension". |
Sphere of influence | Sphere of influence |
The committee urged the government to take a "hard-headed" approach to Moscow, based on the reality of Russian foreign policy. | The committee urged the government to take a "hard-headed" approach to Moscow, based on the reality of Russian foreign policy. |
It said that while Russia did not pose a direct threat to British security in the near future, it is understandable why some Nato members closer to Russia's borders might be worried - especially in the light of Russia's military action in Georgia last year. | |
It also calls on Nato to provide reassurance to states that feel threatened through robust contingency planning. | It also calls on Nato to provide reassurance to states that feel threatened through robust contingency planning. |
"However desirable co-operation with Russia may be, it should not come at the price of accepting the legitimacy of a Russian sphere of influence," it says. | "However desirable co-operation with Russia may be, it should not come at the price of accepting the legitimacy of a Russian sphere of influence," it says. |
Although the MPs welcomed the resumption of dialogue between Nato and Russia, they said the alliance must discuss areas not just of co-operation but also of disagreement, including Russia's claim to a sphere of influence in former Soviet states. | Although the MPs welcomed the resumption of dialogue between Nato and Russia, they said the alliance must discuss areas not just of co-operation but also of disagreement, including Russia's claim to a sphere of influence in former Soviet states. |
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