Media revealed US and NATO responses to Russia's so-called "security guarantees"
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The Spanish newspaper El Pais said it had received US and NATO responses to Russia's proposals for so-called "security guarantees" and published details.
This was reported by El Pais.
The publication notes that the responses largely reflect messages that Western leaders have publicly conveyed to the Kremlin.
"Given the significant, unprovoked, unjustified and protracted Russian military build-up in and around Ukraine, as well as in Belarus, we call on Russia to de-escalate the situation immediately," the NATO statement said.
"The position of the United States government is that progress on these issues can only be made in the context of de-escalation of Russia's threatening actions against Ukraine," Washington warned.
The US response said Washington was ready to discuss the concept of "security indivisibility," which the OSCE approved at its 2010 summit. Moscow has included this principle in the first article of its draft agreement, arguing that Ukraine's possible accession to NATO will affect its security.
The text warns that the United States doesn't share Russia's opinion and notes that "the concept of the indivisibility of 'security' cannot be considered in isolation."
The Washington document made it clear from the outset that it "continues to strongly support NATO's open-door policy" and therefore doesn't rule out the future inclusion of Ukraine or Georgia in the Alliance.
The NATO text also reaffirms the open door policy and emphasizes the right of all states to choose their agreements in terms of security "without outside interference."
As for Ukraine, the Biden administration is proposing to Russia "mutual transparency measures," according to which Russia and the United States will agree to "refrain from deploying offensive ground-based missile systems and permanent forces with combat missions in Ukraine." To this end, Washington is proposing to consult with Kyiv.
The US document states that they are "ready to work for mutual understanding with Russia, as well as with our transatlantic allies and security partners of common interest."
The document also sets out a number of issues on which Washington is "ready to discuss mutual commitments or actions" and the forums in which they should be addressed.
The United States says it is ready to pursue the process "honestly," blaming Putin for deploying more than 100,000 troops on Ukraine's border, occupying Crimea, and fueling the Donbas conflict.
Washington complains that in its draft agreement on security in Europe, "Russia has made certain demands that undermine the principles that Russia has committed itself to in previous documents."
A number of US proposals include restrictions on missiles, culminating in new disarmament agreements. Washington has said it is ready to begin bilateral talks with Russia on control of short- and medium-range missiles and their launchers.
The document highlights the concerns of Washington and its allies over Russia's efforts to diversify and increase its nuclear arsenal, develop new intercontinental missiles, and deploy dual and non-strategic missiles near NATO's borders.
One of the new ideas is Russia's proposal for a "transparency mechanism" to check the absence of Tomahawk cruise missiles capable of reaching Russian territory at NATO bases. In turn, Washington calls for an identical approach with two bases in Russia.
To recap, on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine's accession to NATO would threaten Russia's military conflict with the Alliance over Crimea.
