Russia is proposing non-aggression pacts with individual NATO countries
Alexei Drobinin, a diplomat at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, suggested that Moscow might sign non-aggression pacts with individual NATO member states as part of a new security framework in Europe.
This is reported by Reuters, as relayed by Censor.NET.
Three options from Russia
At a security conference in Moscow, Drobinin set out proposals for a new security architecture which, according to Reuters, is being discussed as part of the peace process regarding Ukraine. He outlined three options:
- a collective defence alliance or bilateral mutual assistance agreements, such as those between Russia and Belarus, and between Russia and North Korea;
- political agreements not to assist one another’s adversaries in the event of aggression, as in the Moscow-Iran pact;
- bilateral non-aggression pacts.
According to a Russian Foreign Ministry official, such agreements could be concluded, in particular, with individual NATO member states, which would then receive ‘additional individual security guarantees’ from the Russian Federation:
Medinsky, Russia’s chief negotiator in the talks on Ukraine – which resumed this week for the first time since February – said on Wednesday that the idea of a new security architecture in Europe had been the central theme of the two-day talks in Abu Dhabi. He did not disclose any details of what exactly had been discussed.
Context
- The treaty between Russia and North Korea, signed in June 2024, provides for immediate military assistance should either party come under attack. The treaty with Iran, signed in January 2025, does not contain such an obligation: the party that has not been attacked will merely refrain from assisting the aggressor.
- Some European politicians are opposed to any discussion of a common European security architecture until progress has been made in the negotiations on Ukraine, in particular until a ceasefire has been agreed. US officials have made it clear that they are open to such a discussion.
