MOSCOW – Russia wants to avoid a confrontation between Ukraine and Western countries, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, but needs an “immediate” gurantees from the United States and its allies on security requirements.
Ukraine is in the midst of unrest in the East and West after the United States and Kyiv accused Russia of plotting a new invasion of its southern neighbor, allegations that Moscow denies.
Putin was interrogated about the danger of clashes with Ukraine during an annual marathon news conference, which lasted more than four hours.
“This is not our (preferred) choice, we do not want this,” he told reporters.
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The United States, the European Union and the Group of Seven have all warned Putin that he will face “significant consequences” including severe economic sanctions in the event of a new Russian crisis.
Putin said Russia had received a positive response at the start of security measures issued to the United States this month designed to alleviate the problem and that he hoped there would be talks, which he said would begin early next year in Geneva.
But in a different response, Putin was furious when he recalled how NATO had “deceived” Russia with a series of rising waves since the Cold War, and he said that Moscow needed an immediate response.
“You have to give us guarantees, and soon – now,” he said.
Russia has dismissed allegations by Ukraine and the US that it may be preparing for an attack on Ukraine early next month with tens of thousands of Russian troops deployed in the area bordering the former Soviet Republic. Learn more
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It says it needs Western promises – including a promise not to continue NATO war in Eastern Europe – because its security is threatened by growing Ukrainian ties with the Western alliance and the possibility of launching NATO missiles against it in Ukraine. .
“We have just asked directly that there should be no further NATO movement in the east. The ball is in their court, they have to answer for something,” Putin said.
NEW CEASEFIRE
Putin has accused Ukraine of violating its obligations under a 2015 agreement aimed at halting fighting in its eastern Donbass region between Ukrainian and Russian troops, and refusing to talk to representatives of the two rebel regions.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said Kyiv, on the contrary, had done “great work” to bring about a new agreement to end the war in the east on Wednesday, and its troops reported no violations of what it called Russian troops in the first half of Thursday.
Four sources told Reuters that Russian troops had been deployed to eastern Ukraine separately in recent weeks to strengthen defenses against Ukrainian forces. Learn more
Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde, chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), has called for a ceasefire, “a small but crucial first step in withdrawing the line of communication”.
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Ukraine rejects Putin’s position that Moscow is merely a mediator in the conflict, accusing it of providing direct support to the divisive side. He has repeatedly offered direct talks with Russia, which Moscow has so far denied.
Putin has made it clear that he does not see President Volodymr Zelenskiy as a negotiator, accusing him of falling under the influence of what he calls radical nationalist forces.
“How can I build relationships with existing leadership, as they do? It’s almost impossible,” he said.
The tense situation in Ukraine has pushed Moscow’s relations with Western countries to the lowest level since the collapse of the Soviet Union 30 years ago.
Many Russian security proposals, which would require the withdrawal of US troops and allied central and eastern European countries joining NATO after 1997, are seen as not the first in the West.
But the United States and NATO have said they will discuss the package with Russia early next year, knowing that a complete ban could exacerbate the problem in Ukraine.