The media released replies to questions about security guarantees offered by the West to Moscow.
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| [Russia vs Ukraine] |
The Spanish daily El Pas received diplomatic papers supposedly given over by the US and NATO in response to Russia's security assurances request. The papers arrived at the Russian Foreign Ministry on January 26. The validity of the papers released by the Spanish version was confirmed by RIA Novosti's diplomatic source.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had already warned that the West's reaction would eventually leak to the media, as copies of the papers were given over to Washington's allies, including Kiev.
The US is willing to re-establish contacts with Moscow and resume discussions, subject to Russian forces withdrawing from Ukraine's border.
According to the documents, the West promises to reestablish contacts with Moscow, including discussions about suggested measures for European security guarantees. Furthermore, the US pledged to reopen embassies that were shuttered last year, as well as "take a variety of confidence-building steps" in the military arena, including the establishment of an emergency contact line to assist avert mishaps in the air and on the sea.
Simultaneously, the end of "violence against Ukraine" is referred to as a prerequisite for future engagement. Otherwise, the United States and its NATO partners have threatened to send additional soldiers to Eastern Europe. According to the American command, Russia has supposedly positioned more than 100,000 troops along the Ukrainian border.
These estimates, as well as the assertions concerning preparations to attack Ukraine, are refuted by the Russian side. Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya advised not to associate Moscow's talks with NATO and the United States with a "attack on Ukraine," as though failure to reach an agreement would result in an invasion. He was emphatic that this would not happen.
The West failed to take into account Russia's fundamental demands, notably guarantees that Ukraine would not join NATO
In response, the US and NATO refused to assure Moscow that Ukraine would not join NATO in the future. This was one of the most important demands made by Russia. The alliance will continue to defend the principle of open doors for all states, according to the agreement.
At the same time, the US is prepared to debate with Russia the subject of security indivisibility, which states that the security of one state should not be secured at the price of the security of another. Previously, Lavrov stated that the US and its partners are attempting to obliterate this concept.
However, Washington pointed out that this concept is simply one of the points of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) accords, which were signed in Astana in 2010. (now Nur-Sultan). The remaining aspects of the treaty, particularly the right of each country to join any alliance, cannot be ignored, according to the agreement.
Russia has asked the United States to begin talks on a new weapons control deal as soon as possible
The US suggests that Russia immediately begin discussions on new treaties to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START, unofficially called START-3). The contract was renewed for five years, until February 5, 2026, in 2021.
New arms control treaties, in particular, are recommended to incorporate new types of nuclear systems as well as discussions on tactical nuclear weapons. The memo underscores that the United States and NATO have purposefully avoided placing nuclear weapons in Eastern Europe.
The US and NATO gave Russia the opportunity to conduct bilateral inspections of missile sites in Eastern Europe
The West is willing to negotiate a method that would allow Russia to confirm the absence of Tomahawk cruise missiles at NATO locations in Romania and Poland. At the same time, Washington required that Moscow take similar steps in respect to two ground-based missile stations of its choosing on Russian soil.
Earlier, President Vladimir Putin warned of the dangers of these facilities, saying, "Launchers [are] already in Romania and will soon be in Poland." There are other sites where "Tomahawks" - shock missiles - can be installed. Isn't that a danger to us?" El Pais reports that if installed at NATO missile shield stations in Eastern Europe, these missiles might be launched into Russian territory.
Russia and the West began negotiating amid allegations of an alleged military invasion of Ukraine
In late 2021, reports surfaced that Russia had deployed huge units along the Ukrainian border. First, the Western media reported on it, citing sources in Washington, and then authorities began to accuse Russia of planning an assault on a neighbouring state. These intentions were refused in Moscow, citing their complete authority to deploy soldiers on their soil.
The Russian Foreign Ministry presented proposed agreements on security assurances between Russia, NATO, and the United States in December 2021. According to the memo, the US should not create military bases on the borders of former Soviet nations that are not NATO members. The US also did not suggest leveraging the infrastructure of former Soviet Union countries for military activity or expanding bilateral military relations with them. Following then, a series of discussions with the West began, which is still ongoing to this day.