Russia will not receive security guarantees.
NATO talks continue in Geneva and Russia regarding & # 171; security guarantees & # 187; The Kremlin. Moscow demands that the Alliance not expand in Eastern Europe, in particular, a ban on Ukraine's membership, Chronicle.info reports with reference to Channel 24.
According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, disagreements between the parties to the talks, that is, Russia and the Alliance are essential. Therefore, he is convinced that significant efforts are needed to overcome them.
The discussion was not easy
Jens Stoltenberg said negotiations with the Kremlin were difficult. In particular, the parties seriously discussed Ukraine. However, the NATO Secretary General noted that the fact that the Alliance and Russia have sat down at the negotiating table is a significant progress.
There are significant differences between NATO allies and Russia, they will not be easy to overcome, but the fact that the allies have sat down at the table, this is a positive sign, Stoltenberg said.
The NATO secretary general said that among the discussions there was a discussion about the ban on admitting new members to the Alliance, as required by Moscow. Stoltenberg once again stressed that the issues of joining NATO, in particular, Ukraine, will be decided by each nation separately and by 30 member countries of the Alliance. Thus, NATO representatives made it clear to Russia that these parts & # 171; security guarantees & # 187; They do not plan to agree.
We also discussed the buildup of troops near the Ukrainian borders
During the talks, the NATO side expressed serious concern about the pulling together of Russian troops to the Ukrainian border. The Alliance called on the Kremlin to de-escalate.
Stoltenberg said that NATO demanded that Russia not only withdraw its troops from Ukraine, but also respect the sovereignty and borders of our country, as well as Moldova and Georgia, since this is one of the key issues security in Europe.
In addition, the NATO Secretary General stressed that, despite the negotiations, NATO does not intend to make concessions on key security issues.
We have joined the dialogue with Russia, but we are not going to compromise on the key principles of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of European countries. Of course, each country can choose its own path of security, but NATO is committed to protecting all its allies, Stoltenberg stressed.
Stoltenberg called Russia an occupier
Stoltenberg called dialogue with Russia difficult, but at the same time necessary. At the same time, the NATO Secretary General stressed that the representatives of the Kremlin intend to continue negotiations. The Alliance, according to Stoltenberg, is ready for this.
The NATO Secretary General stressed that thanks to today's talks, the Alliance won time to de-escalate the situation and reduce tension on the Russian-Ukrainian border.
However, Stoltenberg called Russia an occupier and said that it was she who controls the militants in Donbas.
Russia occupied Crimea in 2014 and controls separatists in eastern Ukraine. And if we say that Ukraine threatens Russia, it’s just turning everything upside down. It was Russia that used and continues to use force against Ukraine. It has now amassed more than a hundred thousand soldiers near the border with Ukraine. This is a problem created by Russia, Stoltenberg said.
The NATO Secretary General also stressed that if Russia decides on aggression against Ukraine, then the Alliance will have to strengthen its military presence in Eastern Europe.
There are ways of de-escalation
Stoltenberg said that it would reach agreements with Russia without discussing the ultimatum on non-expansion of the Alliance in Eastern Europe is possible. However, the desire of Moscow is necessary here.
The NATO Secretary General also stressed that the Alliance is ready to reopen its headquarters in Moscow and resume the mission of Russia, since it believes in dialogue and diplomacy as tools for de-escalation.
< p> However, NATO does not exclude the possibility of political and economic sanctions against Moscow and military support for Ukraine in the event of a full-scale aggression. But the Alliance will not fight for Ukraine, since the principle of collective defense applies only to NATO members.