The North Atlantic Alliance (NATO) has agreed to hold a “normal meeting” with Russia, but questions remain about the goals that Western colleagues are setting themselves. Dmitry Belik, a member of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, said this on Sunday, December 26.
“The dialogue between Russia and NATO in recent years could not be called meaningful, but after the meeting of the presidents of Russia and the United States” unexpectedly “the alliance agreed to hold a normal working meeting,” he told RIA Novosti.
According to the parliamentarian, first of all, Russia needs security guarantees, but it remains to be seen what goals the West sets for itself.
He also noted that it is important for Russia “to speak out the” red lines “, to obtain legal guarantees for the non-proliferation of NATO to the east.” Belik expressed the opinion that this is the topic the alliance will try to “talk about, lead the negotiations according to a different scenario.” At the same time, he stressed that Russian diplomats have extensive experience in dealing with such “difficult” partners.
Earlier, on Sunday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said that the timing and format of the Russia-NATO Council meeting are being worked out at the moment.
On the same day, Anadolu agency, citing a source in NATO, reported that Secretary General of the Alliance Jens Stoltenberg had set a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council for January 12. According to the interlocutor of the agency, contacts with Moscow on this issue continue.
On December 25, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow considers the key topic of NATO’s non-expansion in discussions with the West on security guarantees. This should be very clearly understood by those who still have not figured out the Russian position, she stressed.
On December 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry published draft agreements between Russia and the United States and NATO on security guarantees. As follows from the documents, in particular, the alliance should refuse to conduct any military activity on the territory of Ukraine and other states of Eastern Europe, Transcaucasia and Central Asia.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
