The NATO military alliance and the US have rejected the military guarantee demands Russia has made as to the security of Ukraine, Georgia and NATO member states in Eastern Europe.
According to a press release by NATO, its Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed on Wednesday, January 26, that NATO has conveyed its written proposals to Russia, in parallel with the United States.
Stoltenberg noted in a press conference that NATO called on Russia to immediately de-escalate the situation and focus on dialogue and diplomacy as the country’s military build-up in and around Ukraine continues, with more than 100,000 troops in position, and more on the way, including significant deployments in Belarus. «NATO is a defensive Alliance, and we do not seek confrontation. But we cannot and will not compromise on the principles on which the security of our Alliance and security in Europe and North America rest,» the NATO Secretary-General stated.
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American news agency AP reports that the US repeated in its written response to Russia that the demands by Moscow as to the future enlargement of NATO and allied deployments of troops and military equipment in Eastern Europe are non-negotiable.
Russia did not immediately comment on the written statement, yet Russian officials have warned previously that Moscow would quickly take «retaliatory measures» if the US and its allies reject its demands, AP reports.
NATO and US reject Russia’s military guarantee demands
