untitled design

Russia – US: Senior officials in security talks with Ukraine

Russian Undersecretary of State Sergei Ryabkov and US Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman to lead talks for security issues to be held in Geneva on 10 January, announced today (30/12) the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, amid tensions around Ukraine.

Before these conversations, in which Russia hopes to secure new security guarantees, the Russian president Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Joe Biden will discuss Ukraine and other issues late tonight.

Putin’s conversation with Biden

The Kremlin said today that the initiative for the December 30 telephone conversation came from President Putin.

“The purpose of the conversation is very clear, to continue discussing those issues that were on the agenda of the rather recent video conference,” the Kremlin spokesman said, adding that “a number of topical issues related to the talks that will take place on 10-11-12 January “.

Peshkov added that Putin and Biden have “a lot to discuss” and concluded that “any talks are conducted with a single purpose, to reach a compromise taking into account each other’s positions of principle.”

In a telegram to President Biden wishing him a happy new year, the Russian president said that Russia and the United States must work together constructively and “establish an effective dialogue based on mutual respect and taking into account the national interests of one another.” the other ‘s”.

Concern from thousands of Russian soldiers on the border with Ukraine

Russia has alarmed Western countries by rallying tens of thousands of soldiers near its border with Ukraine the last two months. Moscow denies any plans to attack Ukraine and says it has the right to move its troops to its territory whenever it sees fit.

Moscow, which is concerned about what it says is Ukraine’s rearmament from the West, has said it wants legally binding guarantees from NATO’s military alliance on its eastward expansion and development of weapons systems in neighboring Russia.

“During the talks, we will seek firm legal guarantees for Russia’s security from the US side, meaning that NATO will not move east and that weapons systems threatening Russia will not be deployed near our borders,” she said. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said during a briefing today.

Russia is due to hold talks with NATO in Brussels on January 12, ahead of a broader meeting on January 13, attended by the Vienna-based Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), in which The United States and its NATO allies, as well as Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet republics.

Zakharova said the January 13 talks would take place in Vienna.

You may also like

Get the latest

Stay Informed: Get the Latest Updates and Insights

 

Most popular