Kremlin is demanding that NATO commit in writing to not expanding alliance eastward
Russia wants NATO's commitment to refrain from further eastward expansion to be put in writing. The Kremlin says that verbal assurances are not enough.
According to Censor.NET, this was stated by Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov.
According to a spokesperson for the Russian dictator, Russia had allegedly been assured earlier that NATO would not expand eastward. However, as the Kremlin spokesperson claims, the Alliance subsequently expanded five or six times.
"This was back in the days of Gorbachev and Yeltsin. Since then, NATO has expanded eastward five or six times. Therefore, of course, such statements—which are so important to us—must be backed by actions, specifically, the formal documentation of NATO’s non-expansion," Peskov stated.
He essentially reiterated Moscow’s demand, which the Russian authorities had previously put forward. Specifically, in December 2021, Russia released draft agreements with the U.S. and NATO in which it demanded that the Alliance be legally obligated not to accept new members, including Ukraine.
What led up to this?
Previously, media outlets reported that Russia would try to use a new round of peace talks on Ukraine to secure concessions that would weaken NATO's defenses. Specifically, this refers to the withdrawal of Alliance troops from Eastern European countries.
- Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda ruled out the possibility of complying with Russia's demand that NATO withdraw its troops from the Alliance's eastern flank.
