The moment of truth is coming in relations between Russia and NATO, said the head of the Russian delegation at the Vienna talks on military security, Konstantin Gavrilov. According to him, if NATO continues to attack Russia’s “sore spots”, there will be a military response.
“Everyone understands perfectly well that the moment of truth is coming in relations between Russia and NATO. You can’t constantly step on Russia’s sore spots, you need to be determined … The conversation must be serious, and everyone in NATO understands perfectly well, despite all the strength and power, that it is necessary to take concrete political actions, otherwise the alternative is military-technical and military responses from Russia, ”said Mr. Gavrilov (quoted by RIA Novosti).
Earlier, the Russian side criticized NATO’s policy of active expansion, especially to the east. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recalled the promises of the alliance “in time” to admit Ukraine and Georgia into it. Russia has repeatedly called Ukraine’s NATO membership a “red line” for itself.
On December 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry published a draft of agreements with the United States and NATO on security guarantees. The Russian Federation wants to legally formalize the refusal to admit to NATO “states that were previously part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.” The United States found some of the proposals unacceptable. Washington plans to discuss Russia’s security concerns with European partners. The EU has come out in favor of discussing security within the framework of already existing formats.
More details about Moscow’s initiative can be found in Kommersant’s article Forward, Into the Past.
.