In early December, Moscow offered the US and NATO to agree on security guarantees in Europe. In particular, Moscow demanded that NATO no longer move eastward and no longer accept the countries of the former USSR. In January, Russia will discuss a draft agreement with representatives of the United States and the alliance. What the parties say on the eve of the talks - in the review. Ru ".
Russia's position
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, December 23:“Threats have been building up around us over the past decades on an ongoing basis. NATO's military infrastructure is already close to our borders. We were regularly deceived, from oral promises to even political commitments. So this time, as President Putin said, we insist solely on legally binding guarantees. "
President Vladimir Putin on December 26:
“Our proposal [on security guarantees] is open and understandable. I don't see anything bad here. For us, there is only one goal - to reach agreements that would ensure - both today and in the long term - the security of Russia and its citizens. I want it to be clear to everyone, both in our country and abroad, to our partners so that it is clear that it’s not even the line that we don’t want anyone to cross. The fact is that we have nowhere to go. They pushed us to such a line, sorry for bad manners, that we have nowhere to move on. They just brought us to such a state that we have to tell them: stop! It [the response to the refusal of the US and NATO to provide security guarantees for Russia] can be very different. It depends on the proposals that our military experts will make to me. "
Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov on December 26:
“We have come to a situation where our safety is at stake. This is already a question, well, actually life and death for us "
US Position
US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan December 23:“Together with our NATO allies and partners, we are ready to interact with the Russian authorities and discuss the problems they have voiced. Moreover, our partners in Europe and all those concerned about the security situation in Europe look forward to engaging with the Russian government on these issues. But we are not going to compromise our principles and values, and we will stand firm together with our allies and partners. We believe that we have a chance to make progress in discussing the issues raised by the Russian side. But it will be a two-way street "
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on December 23:
“Russia has presented proposals, with some we would agree, with some, for example, concerning NATO, of course not. I would like to point out that NATO is a defensive alliance, not an aggressive one. There is no evidence to suggest otherwise from both the United States and other NATO members. "
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken December 21:
“There are some very obvious impassable elements in what the Russians put on the table [for discussion]. But there may be other issues that are appropriate to discuss. Just as there is what we will put on the table [of negotiations], to which [will] need to be answered by Russia. The US and all our European partners have [concerns] about Russia's actions. All of this will be discussed. [The President of the United States] has made it very clear for years that there are some fundamental principles on which no one will back down. No country has the right to forcefully change the borders of another, no country has the right to dictate policy to another or indicate to it with whom to maintain ties, no country can establish spheres of influence. This concept should go to the dustbin of history. And these principles are inviolable "
US State Department spokesman Ned Price on December 20:
"There will be no negotiations on European security without our European allies and partners."
NATO Position
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg 23 December:“NATO has never made promises not to expand (eastward). In fact, the founding document of our organization says that any European country can become a member of the alliance. This is the fundamental principle of European security, to which Russia has subscribed. We cannot change this with mere words. I believe it is important now to reduce tensions and engage in 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, and we cannot compromise on the basic principle of each nation's right to choose its own path. "
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