US, NATO responses to Russia’s security proposals failed to address main concerns: Kremlin

Asia-Pacific, Europe, News January 29, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Russian President Vladimir Putin during a video conference with French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the U.S. and NATO’s responses to Russia’s security proposals did not address its main concerns, the Kremlin said in a statement on January 28.

The United States and NATO partners’ written responses were presented to Russia amid rising tensions over the possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, however, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Moscow’s main concerns over the eastward expansion of the NATO military alliance were not addressed.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, “There is no positive reaction on the main issue in this document. The main issue is our clear position on the inadmissibility of further expansion of NATO to the East and the deployment of strike weapons that could threaten the territory of the Russian Federation.”

While speaking to the Russian radio stations on January 28, Lavrov stressed that Russia was not seeking war and diplomacy was the only way forward.

*^{U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Switzerland on January 21, 2022.}*

“If it depends on Russia, then there will be no war. We don’t want wars. But we also won’t allow our interests to be rudely trampled, to be ignored,” Lavrov said.

Russia has repeatedly denied that it planned an invasion but asserted that the U.S. and NATO support for Ukraine, including increased arms supplies and military training, poses threat to Russia’s western flank.

The Russian foreign minister stated that the United States and NATO had previously agreed to consider Russia’s security concerns and not to expand the alliance within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Lavrov said the U.S. counter-proposals were better compared to NATO’s response but gave no details on the clear demands or responses. According to Lavrov Russia is carefully studying the documents and President Putin will soon decide how to respond.

Lavrov added that he expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken again in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, John Sullivan, said that Washington had raised the possibility of “reciprocal transparency measures… including on offensive weapons systems in Ukraine, as well as measures to increase confidence regarding military exercises and manoeuvers in Europe.”

According to Sullivan, Russia’s military buildup near Ukraine is a threat to NATO, as Russia can launch a full-scale invasion without any warning.

“It’s the equivalent of if you and I were having a discussion or a negotiation. If I put a gun on the table and say that I come in peace, that’s threatening,” Sullivan said.