Lavrov: First round of Russia-US talks on security guarantees in January

Russia and the United States will begin the first round of talks on security guarantees sought by Russia from the West in January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today in an interview with RT television amid concerns over the growing Russian military presence. near the border with Ukraine.

“It has been agreed that the first round of bilateral contacts between us and the US negotiators will take place early next year, whose names have already been announced and are acceptable to both sides,” Lavrov said.

Lavrov said that there had been a series of talks at the level of advisers to the presidents of Russia and the United States (Yuri Ushakov and Jake Sullivan) and that after the last contact, the organizational details of further cooperation were agreed.

The Russian Foreign Minister said that despite the progress made in the dialogue on the security talks, much work will be required on the content of the agreements proposed by Russia on security guarantees.

“The Americans have stated that they are ready to discuss a whole range of concerns, expressed in our texts (draft agreements), a whole range of concerns that are unacceptable and, thirdly, that they also have their own concerns. We are “We are ready to look into it, but at the moment they have not presented it to us. So while there is an understanding of the organizational side of the issue, in terms of content there is still a lot of work to be done,” Lavrov said.

Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of considering a new attack on Ukraine as early as next month. Russia denies any wrongdoing, despite moving tens of thousands of troops closer to the border with Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia has no room to back down in its confrontation with the United States over what Moscow considers Washington’s unacceptable military aid to Ukraine and will be forced into a tough response. unless the West abandons its “offensive line”.

He also said that Moscow wanted legally binding security guarantees that some offensive weapons systems would not be deployed in countries bordering Russia and that NATO should stop expanding eastward.

SOURCE: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ