Moscow. January 12. INTERFAX-AVN - The Russian military named key issues for discussion with NATO, the level of relations with the alliance is characterized as critically low with the risks of incidents and conflicts.
"Russian-NATO relations are at a critically low level. This is happening against the backdrop of global instability, the terrorist threat, the deployment of another arms race, as well as the complete degradation of the security architecture in Europe," Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said at a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council in Brussels.
"The Russian side has repeatedly proposed to the alliance to take measures to de-escalate the situation. On the part of the alliance, Russian initiatives were ignored. This creates prerequisites for incidents and conflicts, undermines the foundations of security," the Russian Defense Ministry quotes Fomin.
Fomin stated: "In the current legal documents regulating relations between Russia and NATO, the commitment to cooperation as partners is fixed, without creating threats to each other's security."
According to the Deputy Minister, in these circumstances, Russia sent the United States and NATO draft agreements on legally binding security guarantees.
NON-EXPANSION OF NATO TO THE EAST AT THE EXPENSE OF UKRAINE, NON-DEPLOYMENT OF NEW US MISSILES IN EUROPE, LIMITATION OF MILITARY ACTIVITIES
Fomin named the key issues for discussion with NATO.
"Firstly, guarantees of non-expansion of NATO to the east at the expense of Ukraine and other countries. Secondly, the commitment not to deploy new American medium-range and shorter-range missiles in Europe, since the deployment of such weapons can dramatically worsen security conditions on the continent. Thirdly, the restriction of military activity in Europe, the exclusion of the build-up of so-called "forward-based contingents," he said.
Fomin said that the Russian proposals have been brought to the Russia-NATO Council, "are on the negotiating table."
"The Russian side is counting on constructive discussions in order to reach the preparation of agreements on security guarantees for the Russian Federation as soon as possible," he said.
