Russia confirms that it maintains the diplomatic path for an agreement with the US and NATO

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has informed Russian President Vladimir Putin that there are possibilities of an agreement with the United States and NATO on “key issues” of the security guarantees that Moscow demands in Europe. That is why, as she has announced, the contacts will continue.

This message, which occurred during a televised meeting of the Kremlin, could be a signal of Russia’s readiness to de-escalate around Ukraine. Specifically, Putin has asked directly to your foreign minister about whether there chances of reaching an agreement for avoid approaching their NATO borders and the head of Russian diplomacy has answered in the affirmative.

“You and other representatives of Russia have said that we warn of the inadmissibility of negotiating forever on issues that require a solution today. But, being the foreign minister, I must say that there are always possibilitiesLavrov replied to the head of the Kremlin. In addition, he explained that in his opinion Russia’s possibilities “are far from being exhausted” and that at this stage he “could continue and intensify them”, although he stressed that negotiations should not drag on.

The Russian president’s response, with a simple “it’s fine”, opens the door to continue with the diplomatic path. A path that also keeps Europe clear. Both Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, and Josep Borrell, head of European diplomacy, have responded to Russia “calling not to worry and to continue the dialogue” and insisting that the country “guarantee the de-escalation around Ukraine”, as as Lavrov himself explained during the meeting.

However, the Russians see this as “disregarding the norm that no organization can be considered dominant in the Euro-Atlantic space.”

Military exercises come to an end

For his part, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has informed Putin that the exercises being carried out with troops from almost all military constituencies and Russian naval fleets are coming to an end and that some have already concluded.

“Exercises are held in the West military constituency, in virtually all fleets: in the Barents Sea, in the Black Sea, in the Baltic Sea, in the Pacific. Soldiers from almost all military constituencies participate in it,” said the defense minister.

For his part, the vice-president of the Council of the Federation or Russian Senate, Konstantin Kosachov, stressed that the military exercises are concluding within the established deadlines and that shows that Russia is not preparing for a war. “The hysteria unleashed by this reason is absolutely artificial,” the senator wrote.