JAKARTA - Russia claims to have no "aggressive plans" against NATO or EU (EU) members and is ready to provide written guarantees.
This was confirmed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a speech at a discussion in Moscow on Thursday, December 11.
"We have no aggressive plans, as the President (Vladimir Putin) emphasized against NATO or EU members," Lavrov said as quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Friday, December 12.
"We are ready to formalize the guarantee in writing, in a legal document. Of course, on a collective and reciprocal basis," he said.
He said the latest talks between Putin and US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow have resolved "misunderstandings and miscommunications" between the two countries that emerged after the summit of the two leaders in Alaska last August.
Lavrov stressed Russia will continue to follow up on the understanding reached with the US at the meeting.
As part of that, he said, the two parties had submitted "additional proposals" on collective security guarantees.
"We understand that discussions about security guarantees cannot be limited to Ukraine," Lavrov said.
He said Russia was ready to consider all proposals that were formulated jointly and led to the achievement of legally binding agreements.
"We don't want one crisis to be followed directly by another," he said.
The Russian Foreign Minister accused the West of trying to take advantage of the Russia-Ukraine war as a diversion from "other important issues" in the world, including Palestine.
"We are witnessing efforts to exploit the urgency of the debate over Ukraine, including in international forums, to distract from other issues faced by the international community, which could even be more decisive and critical. I am referring to the Palestinian issue," Lavrov said.
He said Russia had not seen the documents being discussed and commented on by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his Western allies.
"The opposite side (West) wants security guarantees only for Ukraine, and that guarantee, according to information appearing in the media, is provided in such a way that it prepares another attack on the Russian Federation," Lavrov said.
He also highlighted Zelenskyy's active contact with European leaders and said the effort was aimed at thwarting Trump's plans.
Lavrov said Europe was trying to get into the settlement process, but the idea they carried would not benefit from negotiations, with Europe's "militaryistic craze" that has so far dominated.
"They need to look at themselves and focus on serious things rather than continuing to do propaganda and legislation," he said.
Previously reported, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned Russia could attack member states of the defense pact in the next five years.
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