Russia said on Sunday it wanted “equal” relations with the United States and accused the West of causing tensions around Ukraine, with London calling in return to strengthen NATO and target the Kremlin.
“We want good, fair, mutually respectful and equal relations with the United States, as with any other country in the world,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on television.
Tensions are at their highest between Moscow and the West over Ukraine, near which Russia, accused of preparing an invasion, has massed tens of thousands of soldiers and heavy weapons.
“legitimate interests”
Russia “does not want to remain in a position where (its) security is regularly violated”, as in the event of Ukraine’s integration into NATO, Mr. Lavrov continued.
Moscow will therefore continue to seek “legally binding guarantees” that will take into account the “legitimate interests” of Russia, and will send to the countries of NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) ” a formal request urging them to specify how they intend to implement their commitment not to increase their security at the expense of the security of others”.
“Selfish Purposes”
Russia has been accused since the end of 2021 of having massed up to 100,000 soldiers on the Ukrainian border in preparation for an attack. Moscow denies any plan in this direction, while demanding written guarantees for its security, including the rejection of Ukraine’s membership of NATO and the end of the Alliance’s military reinforcement in the East.
This key request was rejected by the United States this week in a written response to Moscow. The Kremlin said it is still considering its reaction.
A close associate of President Vladimir Putin, the head of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, for his part accused the West of exacerbating tensions themselves.
“We don’t want war. And we don’t need it at all. And those who impose it, especially Westerners, are pursuing their own selfish designs,” he said, quoted by Russian news agencies.
Deploy Troops
Several Western countries have announced in recent days the sending of new contingents to Eastern Europe, including the United States, which has already placed 8,500 soldiers on alert to reinforce NATO, and France, which wants to deploy “several hundred of soldiers in Romania.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will propose next week to NATO a deployment of troops to respond to the rise of “Russian hostility” towards Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities called on Westerners on Saturday to remain “firm and vigilant” in negotiations with Russia, while calling not to sow “panic” about the imminence of an invasion.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki are expected in Kiev this week. Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand, whose country provides military assistance to Ukraine, arrived there on Sunday for a two-day visit.
Target the Kremlin
Europeans and Americans have promised unprecedented sanctions in the event of an attack on Ukraine.
London, which has multiplied announcements in an attempt to increase pressure on Moscow, thus indicated on Sunday that it wanted to target Russian interests “which directly interest the Kremlin”.
Were also mentioned the strategic gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 between Russia and Germany, or the access of Russians to transactions in dollars, the queen currency in international trade.
The United States also seized the UN Security Council on Thursday, calling for a meeting on Monday because of the “clear threat” posed in their eyes by Russia to “international peace and security”.