"We promised both Georgia and Ukraine seats at the NATO table in 2008, and it’s time we set out an action plan to realize our promise,” Rasmussen stated in his article On Russia, NATO cannot fold published on American website Politico on January 3.

Rasmussen also emphasized that Russian president Vladimir Putin’s ‘de facto veto on Ukraine and Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations’ should be stopped. 

Russia released a statement on December 10 demanding NATO member states rescind the 2008 Bucharest Summit declaration supporting Georgia and Ukraine's bid to become members of the alliance.

The Foreign Ministry of Georgia stated that what Russia says regarding the Bucharest summit decision is unacceptable, adding that it is the ‘sovereign right of Georgia’ to join the alliance, based on the wish of the majority of the Georgian population.

Russia occupies 20% of Georgian territory and continues a creeping occupation of the country.

Rasmussen was NATO’s 12th Secretary-General from August 1, 2009, until September 30, 2014.