The United States (US) has rejected Russia’s demand to restrict the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) eastward expansion and bar Ukraine from joining NATO amid rising tensions between Moscow and Kyiv.
US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan has delivered the US written response to Moscow, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Sullivan was received by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Grushko. h/t @DaryaTarasova
— Jennifer Hansler (@jmhansler) January 26, 2022
In an official press release by the US Department of State, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US had delivered a formal response to Moscow, addressing the latter’s previously outlined concerns and security proposals in writing. Blinken said the reply offers Russia “a serious diplomatic path forward, should Russia choose it.”
According to the press release, the document includes the concerns of the US and its allies over Russia’s aggressive actions in Eastern Europe that undermines the security of Europe and pragmatic evaluation of the concerns raised by Russia along with suggestions for further cooperation. Additionally, the statement reiterated the US government’s commitment to uphold and defend Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the States’ right to choose their own security arrangements and alliances.
We stand united with Ukraine and urge Russia to take the path of de-escalation. Our delivery of defensive security assistance to Ukraine today will bolster Ukraine’s defenses in the face of Russian aggression. pic.twitter.com/Wy2grLnDf1
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 26, 2022
Russia has amassed over 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border, which has the West worried. The statement also addressed the troop deployment in Ukraine, military exercises and manoeuvres, arms control associated with missiles in Europe, follow-on agreement to the New START treaty and measures to increase transparency and stability.
“We’re open to dialogue. We prefer diplomacy and we’re prepared to move forward where there is the possibility of communication and cooperation if Russia de-escalates its aggression toward Ukraine, stops the inflammatory rhetoric and approaches discussions about the future of security in Europe in a spirit of reciprocity,” Blinken said.
Furthermore, Blinken said the US response is fully coordinated with Ukraine and its European allies, with whom consultations have been going on for weeks. Also, Blinken said NATO has prepared and delivered its own response highlighting concerns about Europe’s collective security to Moscow that “fully reinforces ours and vice versa” and denied any rift between the US and its allies.
Blinken refused to publicly release the document, saying, “Diplomacy has the best chance to succeed if we provide space for confidential talks.” Moreover, Blinken expressed the willingness to speak with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after Moscow has read the document and is ready to discuss the next steps.
“There should be no doubt about our seriousness of purpose when it comes to diplomacy, and we’re acting with equal focus and force to bolster Ukraine’s defences and prepare a swift united response to further Russian aggression,” Blinken said.
The statement also mentioned the delivery of the US military assistance in Ukraine, the US authorisation to allies — including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — to provide Ukraine with the US origin military equipment from their inventories, the US intent to provide Ukraine with Mi-17 helicopters, the readiness of 8,500 U.S. service members in Europe to aid the NATO Response Force in case of Russian aggression and severe economic sanctions against Moscow in coordination with European allies.
In response, a Russian minister said Moscow would study Blinken’s response delivered in collaboration with NATO.
Meanwhile, diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany held negotiations in Paris on ending the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine. A French official said the talks, held in Normandy Format, was a good signal from Russia to defuse tensions at the border. However, significant differences persist with further discussions planned in Berlin in the coming days.
At the same time, the US President Joe Biden said he would impose personal sanctions on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin if Russia invades Ukraine. In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said individual sanctions would not be painful but politically destructive.