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Russia outlines normalization path with NATO by demanding end of bloc expansion on its border.
Written by Paul Antonopoulos, independent geopolitical analyst
Moscow has outlined an eight-point draft treaty of security guarantees that would lead to lower tensions in Europe and defuse the crisis over Ukraine if the West were to adopt it. The demands include ending Ukraine’s path towards NATO membership, limiting the deployment of troops and weapons close to Russia’s borders, and a return to the pre-1997 status quo, i.e. before NATO’s eastward expansion.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday that although there was no deadline for beginning talks to ease tensions, Moscow wants to begin negotiations “without delays and without stalling” and stressed that “we can go any place and any time, even tomorrow.” He also emphasized that “this is not about us giving some kind of ultimatum, there is none. The thing is that the seriousness of our warning should not be underestimated.”
Effectively, he warned that ignoring Moscow’s request for discussions could lead to a “military response” similar to the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.
Moscow’s call for talks comes as a Ukrainian soldier was killed on Friday during fighting with Donbass defense forces. Although Kiev is amassing forces and attaining new weapon systems like the US-made Javelin anti-missile system, the West lambasts Russia for deploying over 100,000 troops on its border to deter Ukraine from any new military adventures.
US President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of “sanctions like he’s never seen” before should Ukraine be attacked, an unlikely prospect since Moscow has repeatedly stressed that it has no interest in war or territorial expansion in Ukraine. Despite this guarantee though, it has not lessened the Western media campaign to demonize Russia.
The Guardian reported that the “Kremlin’s aggressive proposals are likely to be rejected in western capitals as an attempt to formalize a new Russian sphere of influence over eastern Europe.” This is extremely problematic as it claims that Moscow’s suggestion for Russia and NATO to “not consider each other adversaries” and “resolve all disputes peacefully and refrain from the use of force” is an “aggressive proposal.”
It brings to question why the London-based newspaper finds it “aggressive” to resolve disputes peacefully?
Although the British tabloid believes that Moscow’s proposals “are likely to be rejected” by the West, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said “there’s no reason we can’t do that moving forward to reduce instability, but we’re going to do that in partnership and coordination with our European allies and partners.”
A senior White House official told reporters on Friday that Washington disagreed with parts of Moscow’s proposal, but was willing to discuss its content.
“We are prepared to discuss them. That said, there are some things in this document that the Russians know will be unacceptable,” the official told reporters on condition of anonymity, demonstrating that the US is willing to negotiate rather than reject everything as The Guardian appears to hope.
Although it is unlikely that the West will stop military exercises in Poland and the Baltic states as the Kremlin hopes, demands like banning Ukraine from joining NATO and limiting the types of weapons near Russia’s borders could find success. The Kremlin likely does not expect all their demands to be met, however the proposals could force negotiations in the context of increased military tensions in eastern Ukraine.
Russia-based experts doubted that the West would accept the proposals, with Dmitry Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, explaining that the “publication of Russian proposed agreements with US and NATO on [European security] may suggest that Moscow (rightly) considers their acceptance by the West unlikely.”
Andrei Kortunov, head of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), agreed with Trenin’s assessment and said: “This is a bargaining position — [the Kremlin] is trying to get some degree of partial acceptance. Of course, there is a real risk to making these sorts of demands, especially if the West takes a harsh position, but clearly, the Kremlin thinks that the risk is justified in the circumstances.”
Regardless of whether the Kremlin knew if their proposal would be accepted or not, at the very minimum, an opening for negotiations has been made. It is now in the West’s hands to pursue this opening from Moscow, or face that Russia has clearly said they will use a “military response” if NATO continues to encroach on its sphere of influence and security interests in Ukraine. It is likely that Washington will explore negotiations with Moscow as it too wants to pool more resources towards opposing and challenging China in Asia-Pacific rather than Russia in Eastern Europe.
Stop negotiating, History learned us not to trust them.
Just go to Cuba with some Hypersonic Nuke’s.
The western satanic “Elites” will never respect the East not just Russia, look what they did in Poland, Ussr or Yugoslavia, they murdered children, women and elders in the most brutal psychotic way, they destroyed everything in the East.
Repair Payment is a must, for those States.
Poland at least 900billion Euros Russia/Ukraine/Belarussia 1500billion Euros Former Yugoslavia 750billion Euros
You cant destroy half Europe, murder, steal, enslave people and then after u loose the War say sorry, they only say sorry, because they lost the war.(they are not sorry…)
Pay ur bills “4th Reich EU” with ur little Nazi/pharma/bankster retreat called Switzerland.
Just go to Cuba with some Hypersonic Nuke’s. I think that is the threat made, along with this time we won’t remove them’
Us / Nato is backing down
No they are not, nutcases don’t know the word “back-down”. We are in to a nuclear joyride… go fuck like a rabbit while there is still time…
U.S. only understands force. Thats their historical track record.
Greetings Lone Ranger,
I guess u were from Hungary, how is the Situation in Hungary right now(masks, mandatory vaccination)???
And could u give me some native inside Information about Orban ?
I am asking u because u seem smart and truthful.
Indeed, I am. Sure, I can. Masks are mandatory indoors, except in private homes. Vaccines are mandatory for all University students, all law enforcement, all healthcare workers, and all residents in hospice facilities or care homes. For the rest its not mandatory st the moment, but, every employer can force you to choose, jab or job. Thankfully most employers aren’t pushing it. There will be elections in spring 2022, so the govt is afraid to push it any further.
Its mandatory for the military as well. Politicians are exampt tho…
Thank u very much for ur answer, is there any party in hungry which u would support? So we should ask Lukashenko for Asylum ;)
Mi hazánk mozgalom ( Our Home Association) is the only party I will vote for. They are anti lockdown and anti mandatory vaccination.
He betrayed us, short and simple.
Sadly i guessed so….
On the other hand he is doing other things right. Like border protection, energy safety, foreign trade and diplomacy and children rights protection.
I confirm ur statement in every point, i got the same opinion as you my brother in spirit.
🤗
“U.S. to ease tensions”? They created tensions. They ARE tensions. NATO exists to be against Russia and to keep Europe under American occupation forever. This is nothing but ‘stick and carrot’ tactics, but without actual carrot. Don’t play that game, Russia.
The U.S. Military Industrial Congressional Complex will ensure that very little is done, in terms of diplomacy and peace making. They want the conflict to continue so they can make insane profits at the expense of humanity. Retard Biden will just do whatever his handlers in the deep state tell him to do. I think Russia’s demands are not at all unreasonable, personally.
They’re busy exterminating Americans with the Eugenics jabs here in America. You cannot compromise with psychopath murdering Eugenics Pigs: they must be exterminated just as all the previous mass murderers in world history. There is no compromise with Evil.
hahaha they are Josef Mengele’s children what did u expect…