MOSCOW, 18 February (BelTA) – At the request of the President Lukashenko I informed him about my recent talks with the leaders of Western states on the provision of long-term legally binding security guarantees to Russia by the United States and NATO, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the media following a meeting with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko in Moscow on 18 February, BelTA has learned.
“I consider it quite natural and understandable that this issue also worries our Belarusian ally," Vladimir Putin said.
Russia's main demands to the West are as follows: not to expand NATO into former Soviet nations, not to position offensive weapons systems in Europe that could reach Russian territory, and to withdraw military infrastructure established by NATO in Eastern Europe since the signing of the Founding Act on relations with Russia in 1997.
“The United States and other members of the alliance are unfortunately not ready to accept these three pivotal elements of our initiative. At the same time, they have formulated a number of ideas on European security, on intermediate and short-range missiles, and on military transparency, which Russia is willing to discuss. We are ready to follow the negotiation path provided that all the issues are considered as a package, without separating them from Russia's main proposals, the implementation of which is an unconditional priority for us,” Vladimir Putin said.
