Moscow is categorically against the appearance of NATO on the Russian borders, regardless of Ukraine’s entry into the alliance, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. According to him, both of them are a real “red line”. Russia also considers it unacceptable to send instructors to Ukraine.
“We categorically do not accept the appearance of the North Atlantic Alliance right on our borders, especially taking into account the course pursued by the Ukrainian leadership, both the former and the current. Moreover, this is a real red line,” said Mr. Lavrov during a press conference following the results of 2021 (quote from RIA Novosti). He stressed that even if Ukraine remains outside NATO, “bilateral agreements are possible there with the Americans, the British, and other Western countries that create military facilities and bases on the Sea of Azov there.”
He also opposed the training of the Ukrainian military by Western instructors. “I clearly remember a television picture during the war in Georgia in August 2008, when instructors in the form of US Army officers – both white and African American – instructed practically how to load anti-tank and other weapons. I don’t want this to happen again in Ukraine. Because it will be the transition of all possible red lines. This will be a direct clash between Russian citizens of Ukraine and the NATO military,” the minister said.
The supply of Western weapons to Ukraine, Russia also considers dangerous. According to Mr. Lavrov, they create for Kiev “an additional temptation to switch to forceful methods of resolving issues in eastern Ukraine, and for us this is absolutely unacceptable for obvious reasons.”
On the eve of the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov commented on the negotiations with the United States and NATO on security guarantees. He noted that there is no connection between the ongoing military exercises near the border with Ukraine and the negotiations. Russia will continue maneuvers on its territory.
On January 12, the Russia-NATO Council ended in Brussels. The alliance refused to guarantee the non-accession of Ukraine. Earlier, on January 10, talks were held in Geneva with the participation of Russian-American delegations. As a result of the talks, Russia and the United States also did not achieve progress on the issue of guarantees on NATO’s non-expansion.
For more information about Sergey Lavrov’s press conference, see Our Patience Has Come to an End.
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