In a startling intervention, Donald Trump's envoy to the Ukraine has declared that Russia's long-standing gripes over NATO expansion are fair.
Asked by ABC News about a Reuters report that Russia wanted a written pledge over NATO not enlarging eastwards to include Ukraine and other former Soviet republics, retired Keith Kellogg said: 'It's a fair concern.'
'We've said that to us, Ukraine coming into NATO is not on the table, and we're not the only country that says that'. The comment is likely to spark debate, especially among European allies deeply rattled by Moscow's aggression.
Kellogg also claimed that 'four other countries' within NATO also oppose Ukraine's membership, a pointed reference to the alliance's strict rule requiring unanimous approval from all 32 member nations before admitting a new country.
The scope of Russia's anxiety doesn't end with Ukraine. 'They're not just talking Ukraine, they're talking the country of Georgia, they're talking Moldova,' Kellogg said.
