Moscow: Russia does not make an ultimatum in its negotiations with the West but requires concrete answers to its security issues, Kremlin said on Wednesday because the conversation took place with NATO in Brussels.
Russia began to issue its demands for security guarantees in Europe to 30 NATO allies after intense talks with the United States in Geneva where the position of both parties remained separate.
“We do not negotiate from the position of strength, no and also no place for the ultimatum here,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“This situation only reaches a critical point in terms of Pan-European security and the national interests of our country, that we cannot delay further and the worries that we speak need concrete answers.” The Western Russian meeting was part of an effort to relieve the worst East-West Tensions since the Cold War, especially triggered by confrontation over Ukraine, which according to the United States might plan to attack.
Moscow refused the claim.
PESKOV said Russia was ready to negotiate directly with Ukraine as long as the existing agreement was fulfilled.
He said fires directly with troops and tanks that Russian forces were held near the Ukrainian border on Tuesday not related to NATO talks.
NATO allies said that many Russian demands, which were arranged in two agreements in December, were unacceptable, including calls to reduce the activity of alliances to the level of the 1990s and promised not to accept new members.
Asked about the possibility of Finnish NATO membership, Peskov said NATO was a “confrontation instrument” and every enlargement was a concern Russian.
The buildup of Russian military near Ukraine has turned on the debate in Finland about whether it must join NATO, and Nordic countries say it has an option to seek membership at any time.
Sweden Neutral has also strengthened bonds with alliances.