“Not ready to sign”: the United States responded to Russia’s proposals on security
Two-way traffic
US Ambassador John Sullivan, commenting on the proposed treaties of Russia on security guarantees, approval that there are principles that the American side is not ready to discuss.
“No country has the right to force – the borders of another country. No country has the right to dictate policies or designate another country.
However, he noted that the US considers it possible to make progress in discussing the issues raised by the Russian side. ” Sullivan added that the negotiations would benefit from de-escalation of tensions near Ukraine. By it means the withdrawal from the Russian troops. The Americans see a threat in the current disposition of the Russian armed forces.
Ambassador, that it is not only Russia that can set conditions in the course. “It will be a two-way street. The United States and NATO will raise issues related to dialogue with Russia, ”he said.
And the documents presented by Russia are completely ready and the United States just needs to sign them, the ambassador added. “The United States is not ready to simply take and sign these documents. Moreover, one of them is not addressed to the United States, Sullivan explained, Sullivan explained.
“We want a stable and predictable relationship, but we are not going to get together with our principles and values,” he concluded.
NATO is ready to talk
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on December 23 in an interview with the DPA agency that the alliance is ready to conduct a dialogue with Russia without abandoning its postulates.
“I believe that now it is important to reduce tensions and conduct a meaningful dialogue with Russia, but at the same time not jeopardize the right and responsibility for protecting our allies. <...> We will not compromise on our core principles. We cannot question NATO’s right to protect all allies, ”the organization’s secretary general explained.
Security guarantees
Last week, the Foreign Ministry published two draft agreements on security guarantees. In both documents, the Russian Federation demands to exclude the further expansion of NATO and the accession to the alliance of Ukraine or the existing post-Soviet countries.
In addition, the Russian side offered NATO to deploy additional military contingents and weapons outside the countries.
Among other things, Russia expects the United States to deploy weapons and forces in areas where this will be perceived by the other side as a threat to national security. Also in the project, the United States proposed not to create databases in post-Soviet conditions.
“Are we a threat?”
On the eve, at a big press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a conversation with a British journalist that NATO “brazenly cheated” Russia and carried out five waves of enlargement. Now Moscow is demanding a guaranteed non-expansion of the bloc.
“You must give us guarantees, you, and immediately, now. And not to chat it up for decades Do we threaten someone? “- said Putin.
According to him, Russia made it clear that NATO’s further eastward movement is unacceptable.
“What is incomprehensible here? Are we placing missiles near the US borders? No, it was the USA with their missiles that came to our house, they are already on the threshold of our house. Is this some kind of excessive requirement – not to put any shock systems at our house? What is unusual here? “- summed up the president.