Russia wants out of the western countries’ imposed well-deserved isolation, as Latvian members of the European Parliament Inese Vaidere said in a post on Twitter on Wednesday, 12 January.
She believes Russia’s chosen aggressive foreign policy is akin to a child’s hooliganism – an attempt to get attention.
«It’s clear Russia wants out of the western countries’ imposed isolation, which Russia earned, especially after the annexation of Crimea,» the politician writes.
According to her, Russia’s recently voiced «concerns about security are deeply confusing, and it doesn’t seem like all Russians even understand them».
«It’s clear NATO must not give in to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s absurd demands,» stresses Vaidere, adding that on 12 January NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg justifiably noted that reduction of NATO’s presence in Eastern Europe is not even considered a possibility and Russia cannot decide on Ukraine’s or Georgia’s behalf on joining the alliance.
After the Wednesday’s NATO-Russia Council, Stoltenberg said both sides agreed to organize more talks even though they have major differing positions.
Read also: After Russia-US defence talks, sides speak of differing positions
Stoltenberg also said after the meeting the alliance and Russia have very different opinions about Kremlin’s demanded «security guarantees», but NATO allies are prepared to meet with Russia’s representatives again.
«There are significant differences between NATO Allies and Russia on these issues. Our differences will not be easy to bridge,» said Stoltenberg. «But it is a positive sign that all NATO Allies and Russia sat down around the same table, and engaged on substantive topics.»
According to Stoltenberg, both Russia and NATO allies expressed the need to resume dialogue and to explore a schedule of future meetings’
«NATO Allies are ready to meet again with Russia to have discussions in greater detail, to put concrete proposals on the table, and to seek constructive outcomes,» he added.
Stoltenberg also said Russia did not express a position to agree with this proposal, nor did they reject it. Russia’s representatives said they need to return to NATO with a response, said Stoltenberg.
He also warned Russia will have no veto rights over Ukraine’s decision to join NATO. Stoltenberg also proposed de-escalation of the situation with Russia’s forces concentrated along Ukraine’s borders.
«Ukraine is a sovereign nation. Ukraine has the right to self-defence. Ukraine is not a threat to Russia,» said Stoltenberg. «It is Russia that is the aggressor. It is Russia that has used force and continues to use force against Ukraine. And then, they are building up, with around 100,000 troops, artillery, armour, drones, tens of thousands of combat-ready troops and threatening rhetoric. So of course, that’s the problem.»
Deeply concerned about the concentration of Russian forces along Ukraine’s borders, for months the alliance has tried to organize a meeting of NATO-Russia Council. However, after the spy scandal in October this diplomatic path seemed at risk.
The council has been used for diplomatic dialogue since 2002.
Moscow has presented the west with an ultimatum, demanding NATO to stop its expansion to the east, dismantle its infrastructure in the so-called new member states and go back to how things were on 27 May 1997, before NATO’s initial expansion.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin threatens that if Moscow does not receive the demanded «safety guarantees», he will be forced to execute «military technical measures».
The meeting in Brussels was attended by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and other high-ranking officials. They left for Brussels after US-Russian security talks in Geneva.
Vaidere: Russia wants out of isolation imposed by the west
