Ready For Dialogue, Deputy Foreign Minister Says Russia Is Also Ready To Deploy The Military If NATO Ignores Moscow's Concerns

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. (Wikimedia Commons/Balk MSC)

JAKARTA - Russia is ready to provide a military response if NATO continues to ignore Moscow's security concerns, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov reiterated the Kremlin's stance.

"I said, we will find a form to respond, including by military and military technical means (if NATO ignores Moscow's concerns again)," the senior Russian diplomat told TASS, as quoted December 21.

"I reiterate this. We have to balance activities that concern us, as they increase the risk, with our precautionary measures," Ryabkov stressed.

The senior official from the Red Bear Country also stressed that Russia will try to prevent this scenario and recognize the need to hold dialogue to avoid serious implications.

On December 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry released two draft Russian documents on granting legal security guarantees from the United States and NATO.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin asked NATO to start substantive talks on reliable long-term security guarantees for Russia. He stressed that Russia needed legally binding guarantees because the West had failed to fulfill its verbal commitments.

Separately, as Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, Presidential aide Yury Ushakov told US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Moscow is ready to immediately start talks on a draft document on security guarantees. Later, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov will represent Russia in these talks.