Putin rebuked Washington for ignoring Moscow’s key demands

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that it is “already clear” that the United States has ignored fundamental Russian concerns about security guarantees in Europe. He stated this at a press conference following talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the Kremlin.

According to him, the Russian side is carefully analyzing the US security responses received on January 26.

“But it is already clear that the fundamental Russian concerns were ignored, we did not see the consideration of our three key requirements,” Putin said. He clarified that they concern the prevention of NATO expansion, the refusal to deploy strike weapons systems near Russian borders, as well as the return of the bloc’s military infrastructure in Europe to the state of 1997.

The President of the Russian Federation noted that the US and NATO refer to the right of states to freely choose ways to ensure their security. At the same time, according to the Russian leader, they forget that this should not happen at the expense of the safety of others.

Putin also believes that Russia was “thrown”, promising her once not to promote NATO infrastructure to the east.

“Today we see where NATO is located: Poland, Romania, the Baltic countries. They said one thing, they did another. As we say among the people, they “threw”, well, they simply deceived, ”said the President of the Russian Federation, recalling that after that the States withdrew from the missile defense treaty, although Russia asked not to do this.

According to Putin, NATO’s “open door” policy is not legally enshrined. He added that the alliance “may, but is not obliged” to accept other European countries into this organization.

“The same United States, the same NATO can say, including to Ukraine: “We want to ensure your security, we value it, we respect your aspiration, but we cannot accept you, because we have other, already accepted international obligations. “What is incomprehensible or even offensive for Ukraine here?” Putin is perplexed.

The President of the Russian Federation, speaking about Ukraine’s entry into the North Atlantic Alliance, said that the Ukrainian doctrine spelled out the return of Crimea by any means, including armed.

“Let’s imagine that Ukraine is a member of NATO. Stuffed with weapons… And starts an operation in the Crimea… This is a sovereign Russian territory, the question is closed for us in this sense. Imagine that Ukraine is a NATO country and starts these military operations. Should we fight the NATO bloc? So, has anyone thought about this? It seems not,” the Russian president said.

Shortly before the press conference with Putin, a telephone conversation took place between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his American counterpart Anthony Blinken.

The Russian minister said that the US reaction to Russia’s demands to fulfill the indivisibility agreements in good faith is negative.

The US State Department noted that the head of the department, Anthony Blinken, called on the Russian side to withdraw troops from the borders of Ukraine. The Secretary of State underlined the readiness of the United States, both bilaterally and with allies and partners, to continue to have a meaningful exchange of views with Russia on security issues. It is noted that the United States intends to do this in full coordination with partners and allies.

In addition, Blinken reaffirmed the US commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as the right of all countries to determine their foreign policy and alliances.

Recall that in December last year, the Russian Foreign Ministry published a draft agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States on “security guarantees” and a draft agreement on measures to ensure the security of Russia and NATO member states. The Russian side suggested that NATO refuse to accept Ukraine as part of the alliance, as well as “from any military activity on the territory of Ukraine.” The Russian Federation also offers the United States not to create military bases on the territory of the countries of the former USSR and not to accept these countries into NATO.

On January 26, US Ambassador John Sullivan handed over to the Russian Foreign Ministry a written response to Moscow’s proposal for “security guarantees.”