After Discussing With NATO, Russia Says Moscow's Abandonment Of Initiative Creates Preconditions For Incidents And Conflicts

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General Alexander Fomin. (Source: Ministry of defense of The Russian Federation)

JAKARTA - Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin explained the military aspects of Russia's draft agreement on security guarantees at a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, Russia's Defense Ministry told reporters on Wednesday.

"At the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council held in the City of Brussels (Kingdom of Belgium) on January 12, Colonel General Alexander Fomin, Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia, informed Russia's assessment of the current state of European security, and also provided an explanation of the military aspects of the draft. Russia's agreement on security guarantees," the ministry said, cited from TASS January 13.

The Defense Ministry quoted Fomin as saying, "Russia-NATO relations are at a very low level."

"This is happening against a backdrop of global instability, terrorist threats, the spread of another arms race, and the total degradation of the security architecture in Europe," Fomin said.

In addition, the Deputy Minister of Defense pointed out that 'in the current legal documents governing relations between Russia and NATO, there is a commitment to work together as partners, without creating threats to each other's security.'

As the Defense Ministry put it, at a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council it was pointed out 'the Russian side has repeatedly proposed to the alliance to take steps to defuse the situation.'

"On the alliance side, the Russian initiative was ignored. This creates the preconditions for incidents and conflicts, undermining the security foundations," the Russian Defense Ministry stressed.

The Defense Ministry reminded, in this condition Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to send to the United States and NATO, a draft agreement on security guarantees that are legally binding.

In addition, the Russian Ministry of Defense lists the main issues that need to be focused on urgently.

First, assurances that NATO will not advance to the east, including the accession of Ukraine and other countries into the alliance. Second, they ruled out the deployment of new US medium- and short-range missiles in Europe, as the deployment of these weapons could dramatically worsen security conditions on the continent. Third, they are the restriction of military activity in Europe and the exclusion of the formation of the so-called "forward-based contingent."

The statement said the Russian proposal had been submitted and was "on the negotiating table."

"The Russian side hopes for constructive discussions to reach an agreement on the preparation of security guarantees for the Russian Federation as soon as possible," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement quoting Fomin.