Moscow's proposals on security in Europe resemble an ultimatum. Opinion

20.12.2021, Moscow.

Russia’s proposals for an agreement with the United States and NATO on security in Europe can be called an “ultimatum,” military expert, editor of the Arsenal of the Fatherland journal Aleksey Leonkov expressed this opinion in his commentary for Rossa Primavera News Agency on December 19.

“I would not say that this is an ultimatum, well, although you can call it that. Let’s just say that these are the very red lines that marked for Washington and its allies,” Leonkov said.

The draft agreements require the non-deployment of military and armament of NATO beyond the borders of the alliance of 1997. According to Leonkov, the date was not chosen by chance. “This is the year, with it began NATO’s advance to the east,” the expert explained.

Russia is proposing to return to those parameters of European security that “really did not assume the advantage of one side, which is now clearly on the side of NATO countries.” Leonkov reminded that the North Atlantic Alliance exceeds Russia 3-4 times by the number of conventional weapons and troops.

On December 17, Moscow sent to Washington and to NATO Headquarters in Brussels draft agreements regarding security in Europe. In this document, Russia demands to refuse from expansion of the military bloc to the east and inclusion of Ukraine, as well as to refuse any military activity in Ukraine and other countries of Eastern Europe, as well as in Transcaucasia and Central Asia.

Russia also insists that the parties to the agreement renounce the deployment of short- and medium-range missiles, confirm that the parties do not consider each other adversaries, and stop major military exercises in the agreed border area. In addition, Moscow wants to establish a bilateral hotline for urgent issues.

Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency

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