Russia Reviews US and NATO Responses to Its Security Demands

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister says the country is reviewing the responses from the United States and NATO to its security demands. The US has announced that it rejects Russia’s request to prevent Ukraine’s membership in NATO.

As the threat of a Russian attack on Ukraine and escalation of war increases, Russia has announced that it is reviewing the responses from the United States and NATO to its security concerns.

The United States has rejected Russia’s demands to prevent consideration of Ukraine’s admission to NATO and said it is not willing to compromise on this matter. NATO has also announced that it is ready to listen to Russia’s concerns but that Ukraine has the right to choose the security arrangement it desires.

According to German news agency DW, Alexander Gruschko, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, announced on Wednesday evening, January 26 (February 6), that Russia is studying and reviewing NATO and US responses to Russia’s security concerns.

Russia has presented two demands: the non-expansion of the NATO treaty to Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, and secondly, the withdrawal of all foreign military forces that have been stationed in Eastern European countries since 1997.

NATO member countries have been reviewing Russia’s proposals for approximately one and a half months.

Representatives from Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany sat down for approximately eight and a half hours of discussions and talks in Paris on Wednesday, January 26, regarding the Ukraine crisis. However, these negotiations did not yield concrete results.

The United States has again warned Russia that if it attacks Ukraine, it will face “massive consequences.”

Both the United States and NATO have announced that they are not prepared to negotiate on Russia’s demand to end NATO’s expansion to Eastern Europe.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told Russia that there are fundamental principles that they have a duty to uphold and defend.

According to him, the preservation of Ukraine’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity and the right of countries to choose which alliance they wish to join are among these principles.

NATO has offered Russia the opportunity to negotiate to improve relations. Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of this defense alliance, said: “We are ready to listen to Russia’s concerns and to discuss and exchange views on how to uphold and strengthen the fundamental principles of European security.”

He said that the right of all countries to choose their own path belongs to these principles.

Source: DW