Russia wants to revise security architecture in Europe, - Zelenskyy
Russia seeks to change the current security architecture, at least in Europe. The Kremlin’s intentions pose a serious threat, as they could lead to new wars or the escalation of conflicts.
According to Censor.NET, citing Ukrinform, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made this statement while speaking with journalists as he wrapped up negotiations in Abu Dhabi.
"And there is another issue raised by the American side—a certain new security architecture in the world and in Europe after the war, primarily in Europe. In my view, this could be dangerous. I’ve spoken about this before and warned our team about it as well. This should not be the main agenda, and it should not originate from Ukraine. But I believe that this is precisely the agenda the Americans were pushing the ‘Russians’ toward, because the ‘Russians’ are interested in exactly that—revising the security architecture, at least in Europe," said Zelenskyy.
The Threat of Border Changes
The president noted that his concerns are underscored and confirmed by the alarming signals Putin had sent the day before regarding the borders.
"The fact that Putin wants to redraw borders in Europe is a fact. I am certain that this is part of his plan to revise security guarantees in Europe. This is dangerous because, in my view, it is precisely this kind of thing that leads to wars or escalations," Zelenskyy said.
He added that he had already discussed this threat with representatives from Scandinavian and other European countries. According to Zelenskyy, European partners are also taking these signals seriously.
What the Kremlin Demanded from the U.S. in 2021
Zelenskyy suggested that Putin had already raised the idea of changing Europe's security architecture during a meeting with then-U.S. President Joe Biden in 2021.
According to the president, Putin's initiative called for "a redistribution of forces in Europe and the world, the weakening or withdrawal of NATO troops, and the withdrawal of U.S. troops."
"Any such changes are very dangerous. First, Russia certainly cannot make decisions on behalf of all the societies that are part of NATO. Second, if Russia wants to remove the forces that are providing defense, then what is the point? I think Putin will bring up Finland and Sweden. I’m sure he’ll raise the issue of Hungary and the American presence in the Baltic states," Zelenskyy noted.
