Saturday, December 18, 2021

Russia outlined strict demands upon the NATO alliance for de-escalating mounting tensions in Ukraine, including restricting NATO membership for former Soviet Union constituent states, and limiting the military activities either party could conduct in areas that are “a threat to [the other’s] national security”.

Targeted clauses in the draft agreements published by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs include one that would forbid the United States from establishing military bases or bilateral cooperation or using infrastructure for military means in any of the former Soviet countries that includes Ukraine. The draft treaty on “Security Guarantees” the Associated Press says was submitted to the US and partners earlier this week would commit both parties to cooperation “on the basis of principles of indivisible, equal and undiminished security”, with measures that would restrict either from implementing measures that undermine the other’s “core security interests”.

To that aim, the agreement stipulates both parties: Russia and the US, shall refrain from deploying armed forces or armaments, or carrying out an attack from outside their respective national territories in a way that “could be perceived by the other Party as a threat to its national security”, irrespective of pre-existing “international organizations, military alliances or coalitions”. It also prohibits either country’s deployment of nuclear- or non-nuclear capable heavy bombers or surface warships in areas outside their national territories, as well as training and exercise scenarios for general purpose forces and training personnel from non-nuclear countries, military or otherwise, in the use of nuclear weapons. Additionally, the agreement calls for the return of all nuclear weapons currently stationed outside either the United States or Russia, and the “eliminat[ion]” of “all existing infrastructure” for that purpose.

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