US rejects Russia's demands: NATO to continue enlargement policy

Washington has already responded to Moscow's demands, as reported by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandr Grushko. The US diplomat had previously informed his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Geneva that the US would respond in writing this week. As expected, Joe Biden's administration has again rejected Russian security requests. These requests include the withdrawal of NATO troops from all countries bordering Russia and a pledge that the Alliance will not expand further eastwards.

John Sullivan, the US ambassador to Moscow, delivered the response to the Russian Foreign Ministry in person. The document "sets out a serious diplomatic path if Russia chooses," Blinken explained at a press conference. Now that Moscow has received Washington's response, the Secretary of State hopes to hold a "follow-up" meeting with Lavrov. "I think there are important things to work with if Russia is serious about the job. And that's up to President Putin. We'll see how they respond," he said. The response submitted by the US is not a "formal" document; it sets out ideas and proposals in which Washington hopes to "advance collective security".

On the other hand, the Secretary of State stressed that "decisions are made by NATO and its doors remain open". In this sense, he reiterated his defence of the Alliance's "open door policy". The head of US diplomacy, while not presenting many details about the response, rejected Moscow's demands that the Alliance commit to not admitting Ukraine.

"We made clear that there are basic principles that we are committed to upholding and defending, including Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the right of states to choose their own security arrangements and alliances," he said. Talks for Kiev to join NATO began in 2008, although these negotiations were suspended in 2014, with Russia's annexation of Crimea.

The memo, which also addresses arms control, will not be made public at the request of the United States, The Washington Post reports. "US officials asked their Russian counterparts to keep the document secret," the US newspaper said. By contrast, Lavrov said during a press briefing following his meeting with Blinken on Friday that "it would be right to make that response public".

For Washington, it is up to Moscow to decide how to resolve the crisis. "We are ready for any of the options," Blinken said. The US has long accused Russia of planning "aggression" against Ukraine. As a result, Kiev has received 170 tonnes of US military equipment since Sunday, with more expected soon. Russia has condemned these actions, accusing the US of increasing tensions in the region.

Although the United States is leading the negotiations with Russia, Washington has relied on its European partners in drafting the response to Moscow. The document has also been endorsed by Ukraine and NATO. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has again urged Russia to "de-escalate immediately" in a separate document. Stoltenberg said a political solution is possible, but warned that NATO "is prepared for the worst". Several NATO countries have already sent reinforcements to eastern countries to deal with Russian troops deployed near the Ukrainian border.

Regarding the possible entry of other countries into NATO, the Norwegian politician recalled that they respect "the right of each nation to choose", alluding to Ukraine and Georgia, the main candidates to join the Alliance. In addition, he called on Russia to "withdraw its clothes from Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova". However, Stoltenberg has also advocated diplomacy, calling for Russia and NATO to reopen their respective offices in Moscow and Brussels.

Kiev, for its part, has backed the response put forward by its US allies. Mykhailo Podoliak, a Ukrainian presidential adviser, told CNN that Russia had an opportunity to use diplomacy to "avoid a negative scenario".

Russian officials have commented on the US response. Minister Lavrov noted that the document presented by Washington "does not contain a positive reaction to the non-expansion of NATO", Russia's main security proposal. However, the head of Russian diplomacy stresses that there are other aspects presented that allow for "the beginning of a serious conversation".

For the time being, Lavrov's ministry is "considering the documents as a whole". "After interdepartmental coordination, we will inform the president. He will decide our next steps," the diplomat told Russia's Interfax news agency.

Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, has accused NATO of not keeping its promises and encroaching on Russia's borders. "Did they promise not to expand into the territory of the former Soviet Union? They promised in private talks," Medvedev said. "Now they are encroaching on the borders of our state," he added.