Former USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev said on Friday that the US had become “arrogant and self-confident” after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and that this had led to NATO enlargement.
“How can anyone in such positions rely on equal relations with the United States and the West?” Gorbachev asked in a conversation with the RIA Novosti news agency.
He noted that after the collapse of the USSR, “a triumphant mood prevailed in the West, especially in the United States.”
“They became arrogant and confident. They declared victory in the Cold War, “Gorbachev lamented, insisting that it was Moscow that had saved the world from confrontation and nuclear rivalry with Washington.
“No, the winners decided to build a new empire. Hence the idea of NATO enlargement, “said the last leader of the former” evil empire “.
At the same time, he praised the talks between Russia and the United States on the “security guarantees” demanded by Moscow.
“I hope there will be a result,” Gorbachev said.
Russia reportedly submitted two draft agreements to the United States last week to be concluded with the United States and NATO, respectively.
Among other things, the Kremlin has demanded NATO’s commitment to halt further enlargement, as well as the de facto departure of the Alliance from Eastern Europe, restoring the status quo as of May 27, 1997, before NATO’s first eastward expansion.-
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Washington had shown readiness to discuss Moscow’s demands and that talks on it could begin as early as next year.
A high-ranking US official has also confirmed that Washington is ready to start talks in the beginning of January.
At the same time, several NATO members have already categorically rejected Moscow’s demands, stating that they are not even negotiable.
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