The Russian government repeated its demand Thursday that NATO forgo future expansion and roll back its presence in Central and Eastern Europe as tensions over a potential invasion of Ukraine by Moscow hit new highs.
The demands by Russia’s foreign ministry were included in the Kremlin’s long-awaited response to US proposals on Ukraine and broader European security.
State-run Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that Moscow had demanded that the West disavow the so-called “Bucharest formula” that opens the door for Ukraine and Georgia to become members of NATO.
Russia has also insisted, according to the outlet, that NATO roll back its military infrastructure to the way it was in 1997, when Brussels and Moscow signed the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security.
Since then, 14 nations have joined NATO, many of which were part of the Soviet Union or under Soviet influence during the Cold War. They include the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia.
The Russian response was received by US Ambassador John Sullivan in Moscow, a senior State Department official said Thursday.
While the US has said it would stand by its “open door” policy on NATO membership, Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously expressed a willingness to begin a dialogue on arms control and limiting the size of military exercises in Eastern Europe.
President Biden said there is a “very high” risk of a Russian invasion of Ukraine within “several days.” EPA/JIM LO SCALZO
NATO allies have put forces on standby and sent ships and fighter jets as tensions soar over Russia’s military buildup around Ukraine. NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV/AFP via Getty Images
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin noted that Russia has flown in more combat aircraft and ramped up its readiness in the Black Sea. EPA/STEPHANIE LECOCQ
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, on February 17, 2022. KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty ImagesPutin, who has denied that Russia has plans to invade Ukraine, said late last year that if the West refuses his demands, he would take “military-technical” measures.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned the West earlier Thursday not to use claims of an impending invasion as an excuse to refuse to participate in talks.
“I do hope that all these exclamations, all these far-fetched horror stories will not be used as a pretext by the West for shirking a serious discussion on the basis of our proposals,” he told reporters during a news conference with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio, according to Russian news agency Tass.
Russia’s response comes at a particularly fraught time in the military standoff in Ukraine.
A graphic showing the current situation at the Ukraine-Russia border.
Fighter jets during a joint exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus as part of an inspection of the Union State’s Response Force. Russian Defence Ministry/AFP via Getty Images
Moscow had demanded that the West disavow the so-called “Bucharest formula.” EPA/RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY PRESS SERVICEWhile the Kremlin claims it has been rolling back forces along the Ukrainian border, the US has said Russia is adding to their forces, with 7,000 arriving in the past couple of days.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday in Brussels that despite Russia’s claims of a drawdown, its military actions on the border do not suggest the troops are “ready to pack up and go home.”
Austin noted that Russia has flown in more combat aircraft and ramped up its readiness in the Black Sea, where it has been conducting naval maneuvers.
“You know, I was a soldier myself not that long ago. And I know firsthand that you don’t do these sorts of things for no reason,” Austin told reporters. “And you certainly don’t do them if you’re getting ready to pack up and go home.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied that Russia has plans to invade Ukraine. Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
Russia has insisted that NATO roll back its military infrastructure to the way it was in 1997. EPA/RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY
U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan speaks with journalists in Moscow, Russia, January 30, 2020 REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/File PhotoMeanwhile, the US Embassy revealed Thursday that Russia had expelled deputy chief of mission Bart Gorman, the second-ranking official at the diplomatic outpost. The blog Diplopundit reported that Gorman and his family had left Russia last week.
State Department spokesperson Ned Price described the Russian action as “unprovoked and we consider this an escalatory step and are considering our response.”
With Post wires
