U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. File photoWASHINGTON, Jan 13 The US will be in contact with allies and Russia to decide how to proceed after a series of meetings in Europe, and is ready for both continued diplomatic engagement and confrontational developments , US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters.
"The discussions were frank and direct, they were useful. They gave us and our allies food for thought, they gave Russia food for thought. We will now think everything over, consult with our allies and partners on how to move forward,” Sullivan said at a briefing at the White House.
He added that the US authorities will be in touch with Russia, planning further steps, and said that no new meetings have been scheduled. «We are ready to make progress at the negotiating table, serious, tangible progress on important issues of concern to us in Europe and Russia, in an atmosphere of de-escalation. And we are ready to take the necessary and appropriate steps to protect our allies, support our partners, for a powerful response to any overt aggression, if any,» Sullivan said. «.»Various speakers throughout the week were giving optimistic signals and also deeply pessimistic signals. You should ask them,» he answered the related question. «/>The West has refused security guarantees to Russia: what's next? Negotiations with NATO A meeting of the Russia-NATO Council was held in Brussels on Wednesday. At the meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko «honestly, frankly, without trying to go around corners» pointed out that a further deterioration in the situation in relations between Russia and the West could lead to the most unpredictable and grave consequences for European security. The Kremlin insists on ending the bloc's military cooperation with post-Soviet countries, the refusal to establish bases on their territory, restrictions on the deployment of strike weapons near the Russian border, the removal of American nuclear weapons from Europe and guarantees of non-expansion of NATO to the east. Stoltenberg, in response to Russia's demand, announced the desire of the North Atlantic Alliance to restore the mission in Moscow, as well as the Russian diplomatic presence at the headquarters in Brussels. Nevertheless, he spoke out against the idea of Ukraine not joining the bloc. In turn, Grushko noted that NATO is determined to contain Russia and colossal resources are allocated for this. He added that the talks were frank and direct, and also helped to reveal «a large number of differences between the parties on conceptual issues.» However, the diplomat expressed Russia's concern about the return of the alliance to Cold War schemes and warned that attempts to build security against and without Moscow are doomed to failure, and if NATO moves to containment, Russia will start counter-containment, but this is not its choice. 
January 12, 08:43 Infographic Draft NATO-Russia Security Assurance AgreementInfographicView