The United States and NATO rejected key Russian security demands for easing tensions over Ukraine but left open the possibility of future talks
In a major development, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the United States (U.S.) have rejected the Russian demand of denying the NATO membership to Ukraine.
NATO underlined that Ukraine has the right to decide its future security arrangements and that NATO would continue to leave its door open to new members. It also expressed willingness to discuss upon issues ranging from arms control, deployment of missiles and ways to prevent military incidents between Russia and the West.
The decisions came at a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. This is the first meeting between NATO and Russia in the past 2 years. The President of Russia – Vladimir Putin wants NATO to withdraw its troops and missiles from Ukraine.
Taking it to twitter, NATO tweeted,
#ICYMI: The NATO-Russia Council, which brings together all 30 #NATO Allies and #Russia, met in Brussels to discuss the situation in and around #Ukraine, and the implications for European security ⤵️https://t.co/epDFlon3pd
— NATO (@NATO) January 13, 2022
The Secretary General of NATO – Jens Stoltenberg, who chaired the meeting, said NATO nations and Russian envoys both expressed the need to resume dialogue and to explore a schedule of future meetings.
Stoltenberg tweeted,
The NATO–Russia Council had a serious exchange on Russia's military build-up in & around #Ukraine & implications for European security. #NATO Allies & #Russia agreed to explore a schedule of future meetings. Allies are ready to table proposals & seek constructive outcomes. pic.twitter.com/dszyECAfGe
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) January 12, 2022
Stoltenberg said NATO wants to work out on ways that help in de-escalating the tension. He also said that any talks about Ukraine would not be easy. Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. More than 14,000 people have been killed in this fight and Ukraine’s industrial heartland – Donbas, has been devastated.
Post the meeting, the Deputy Secretary of State, U.S. – Wendy Sherman said that some of Putin’s demand “are simply non-starters”.
Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia – Alexander Grushko said, “It’s absolutely imperative to end the policy of open doors and offer Russia legally binding guarantees precluding further NATO’s expansion eastward.”
Grushko warned that Russian would resort to military means if negotiations fail to resolve the matter.
Besides, NATO also rejected Russia’s proposal of not extending NATO membership to any other new nation. In exchange, Russia would pledge to limit its war games and to end low-level hostilities like aircraft-buzzing incidents. Agreeing to such a proposal would be against the very principle of NATO which says that it can invite any willing European nation to be a part of it.
