Russia today announced that it wants a legally binding guarantee that the Western military alliance NATO will renounce all military activity in Eastern Europe and Ukraine, part of a list of ambitious security guarantees she wants to negotiate with the West, Reuters reported.
The demands form a package that Moscow says is a key demand for reducing tensions in Europe and calming the crisis over Ukraine, which Western countries have accused Russia of preparing for a potential new attack, something it has denied.
But they also contained elements such as effective Russian veto on Ukraine’s NATO membershipwhich the West has already ruled out.
Russia has announced its list of security wishes for the West
The United States and NATO have so far rejected the proposals, and their response has not been encouraging
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Presenting the demands in detail for the first time, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov urged reporters that Russia and the West had to start from scratch in the restoration of relations.
“The line pursued by the United States and NATO in recent years to aggressively escalate the security situation is absolutely unacceptable and extremely dangerous.he snapped.
“Washington and its NATO allies must immediately stop regular hostilities against our country, including unplanned exercises, dangerous rapprochements and maneuvers of warships and aircraft, and to stop the military development on Ukrainian territory“, Ryabkov emphasized.
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The NATO chief mentioned Bulgaria in the context of heightened tensions in the region over Russia
Stoltenberg called for “preparing for the worst” in the situation in Ukraine
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Sam Green, a professor of Russian politics at King’s College London, wrote on Twitter that President Vladimir Putindraws a line around the post-Soviet space and puts a “stand aside” sign. This is not intended to be a contract: it is a declarationI am”.
“But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a prelude to war. It’s an excuse to keep Moscow’s soft trigger position.” to keep Washington and others out of balance. The question is how long this can be maintained before it loses its effectiveness, “Green asked.
Ryabkov insisted that Russia no longer wanted to tolerate the current situation. He called on the United States to take the proposals seriously and to come up with a constructive response quickly.
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EU leaders have issued a scathing statement to Russia over its hostility to Ukraine
The EU emphasizes the urgent need for de-escalation…
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Ryabkov assured that Russia is ready to start negotiations on Saturday, as Geneva is a possible place and that its negotiating team was ready.
Asked about the US response to Russia’s proposals so far, Ryabkov commented: “As for the bigger picture, they did not say ‘no.’ “.
Moscow handed over its proposals to the United States earlier this week amid growing tensions over the build-up of Russian troops near Ukraine.
Russia says it responds to what it sees as a threat to its own security from Ukraine’s growing ties to NATO and its aspirations to join the alliance, although there is no immediate prospect of Ukraine being allowed to join.
