Russia (bbabo.net), - Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Grushko told exactly what Moscow expects from the plan to end NATO expansion to the east, which was proposed to Washington.

According to Grushko, "the plan proposed by the Russian side to Washington is a reaction to the absolute absence of any rational movement of the West towards reducing risks." “If NATO countries are not ready to take the path of military restraint, then Russia will have to respond with the means that we have. an adequate answer ", - the deputy minister explained the position of Moscow.

The time for halftones has passed

Our proposals are absolutely not ultimatum, they are understandable to the West, they show our partners Russian ideas about how we see the state of military security at the present time. Times of half-tones, faith in the word - they are gone. Yes, we have a tough position, and we look forward to a substantive dialogue with the United States. We have already formed a team, and we are ready to immediately start an appropriate conversation as soon as the Americans are ready for it. The cards are on the table.

The West must take into account our right to security

Our NATO partners say that Russia has no vote, that the enlargement procedure is spelled out in the North Atlantic Treaty and that each state has the right to freely "choose how to ensure its security", including participation in military alliances. But there is the second part of the formula, which explicitly states that in making such a choice, states must take into account the security interests of others. If the Alliance today requires us to withdraw troops from the Ukrainian border, which are a thousand kilometers from NATO's borders, why cannot Russia demand the withdrawal of the Alliance's troops and weapons from its borders?

Less than 10 minutes flight to St. Petersburg

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently announced that nuclear weapons could be deployed in Eastern Europe. This is a serious challenge to the very foundations of European security. NATO used to play with expressions like "temporary deployment". Now they call it "stable rotational presence". And this is actually a constant presence. All of this directly affects our security. From Tallinn to St. Petersburg can be reached by bicycle, and the Alliance's combat aircraft reaches St. Petersburg in less than 10 minutes. This factor cannot be neglected. It must be taken into account in military planning, and we will definitely do this.

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