At the upcoming talks between the United States and Russia, Washington representatives intend to discuss the topic of missile deployment in Europe. The Washington Post reports this with reference to representatives of the American administration.
One of the officials said that the parties may touch upon, among other things, the issue of restrictions on the deployment of US missiles in Europe, which may pose a threat to Russia. According to the newspaper’s sources, the US administration is also ready to discuss the scale of military exercises in Europe.
Washington is determined to ensure that such negotiations proceed on the basis of the “principle of reciprocity”, the United States will not conclude agreements if Moscow does not answer the questions of concern to the United States, the material says.
The administration of US President Joe Biden is ready to invite the Russian side in the negotiations on security guarantees to discuss the reduction of the deployment of troops of both countries and military exercises in Eastern Europe on a reciprocal basis, NBC News reported earlier, citing an administration official and two former US national security officials familiar with the discussions. …
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby thereafter stated on Twitter that the US is not considering troop reductions in Europe.
“I can say unequivocally that we are not considering a reduction in the number of troops in Europe or a change in position on this issue. Also, the issue of changing the number of troops in the Baltic countries and in Poland is not being considered, “Kirby wrote.
The talks between Russia and the United States on security guarantees will take place on January 10, the Russia-NATO Council meeting will take place on January 12, and the Russia-OSCE talks on January 13.
On December 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry published a draft treaty with the United States and an agreement with the NATO military alliance on guarantees and security. In particular, the documents imply a refusal to deploy medium and shorter-range ground-based missiles outside the territory of the alliance and a refusal to expand the military bloc to the east, closer to the Russian borders.
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