Lavrov sees chances to agree with the West on ″security guarantees″ | Politics news from Germany | DW

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Monday, February 14, said that there are still chances for an agreement with Western countries on Russia’s demands for “security guarantees”.

“We have already said more than once – and you said it, and other representatives of the Russian Federation – that we warn about the inadmissibility of endless conversations on issues that need to be resolved today. But still, probably, being the head of the Foreign Ministry, I must say that the chance there is always,” Lavrov said when asked by Putin whether the Russian side has a chance to agree with the United States and NATO “on key issues of concern” or is it just an attempt by the West to drag Russia into “an endless negotiation process that has no logical conclusion.”

Lavrov said Russia received “unsatisfactory answers” from the United States and NATO to most of the issues raised in the Kremlin’s demands, but Moscow’s regular contacts with representatives of Western countries – both ongoing and planned – show that the possibilities for agreements are “far away.” not exhausted.” “They, of course, should not continue indefinitely, but at this stage I would suggest continuing and building them up,” the minister stressed.

He also said that the Russian Foreign Ministry had already prepared a draft response to the US and NATO counter-proposals, it was formulated on 10 pages.

Russia’s requirements

At the end of last year, the Russian Foreign Ministry published a package of requirements for “security guarantees” for Russia. Among other things, Moscow demanded that NATO refrain from further expansion to the east and the admission of Ukraine into its structure, from conducting military activities in the countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, as well as refusing to deploy medium and short-range missiles in positions which they can hit the territory of other parties to the agreement.

In connection with the increase in the number of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine, the West fears that these actions are preparations for the Russian invasion of a neighboring country. A whole series of negotiations with the Russian Federation at various venues in January did not lead to any result.

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