Russia to Press U.S., NATO for De-Escalation Near Borders
MOSCOW (Dispatches) -
Moscow will keep pressing the United States and its NATO allies for de-escalation of their military activity, potentials and infrastructure near Russia’s borders and will take all necessary measures to guarantee its national security, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said at the World Politics Forum at the Moscow State University on Wednesday.
He stressed that the Russian side could not but feel worried over the “continuing escalation of mili***Russian S-400 missile air defense systems are seen during a training exercise at a military base in Kaliningrad region, Russia August 11, 2020.
tary-political tensions in Europe.”
“Naturally, Russia is interested in stabilization and in enhancing predictability in relations with the United States and the West in general,” Ryabkov said. “We are not going to shirk mutually beneficial interaction in areas where interests are close or overlap on the basis of principles of equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. We will continue to insistently demand that Washington and its NATO allies stop building up military activity, potentials and infrastructures near Russia’s borders, and we will be taking all necessary measures to guarantee national security.”
Ryabkov said that the Russian-U.S. summit in Geneva last June showed that “it is possible to conduct a direct and frank discussion with the current U.S. leadership.” He recalled that both countries bore special responsibility as major nuclear powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council for maintaining international peace.
He stressed that following the presidents’ negotiations a strategic stability dialogue was launched.
Putin Says Russia Taking
‘Adequate’ Measures in Response to NATO’s Provocations
And also on Wednesday, at a ceremony of receiving foreign ambassadors’ credentials, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the measures is taking in response to NATO’s provocations are more than adequate.
“Incidentally, the threat at our western borders is really growing and we have repeatedly spoken about that. It is enough to see how close the military infrastructure of the North Atlantic alliance has moved to the Russian borders. For us, this is more than serious,” the Russian president stressed.
“In this situation, we are taking adequate military-technical measures,” Putin added.
As the Russian leader stressed, Russia does not threaten any state.