The United States responded to Russia’s security proposals, United Russia offered to send weapons to the DNR and LNR, business in the United States asked to postpone sanctions. The main thing about the crisis around Ukraine and disputes between Russia and NATO – in the material of RBC
Photo: Ethan Swope / AP
The United States gave Russia written responses on security guarantees: US Ambassador John Sullivan arrived at the Russian Foreign Ministry in the evening and handed the document to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko.
After that, at a briefing in Washington, the head of the US State Department, Anthony Blinken, said that the United States would not publish the document and expected Russia to do the same. The content will remain closed in order to have space for closed negotiations. The State Department looks forward to speaking with Minister Lavrov in the coming days to prepare further meetings.
According to Blinken, the American response includes US concerns about Russia’s actions and the US proposal. Joseph Biden took an active part in preparing the document.
Among the provisions of the document handed over to Russia, Blinken called the United States’ commitment to the diplomatic method of resolving differences and readiness for all scenarios. The United States also stated that cooperation with Russia is possible only in those areas that are indicated in response to Moscow’s proposals. At the same time, the principle of “open doors” in NATO is preserved.
The head of the State Department outlined areas where Washington sees an opportunity for progress in the negotiations: the arms control regime, including the issue of placing missiles in Europe, as well as ways to increase transparency and stability.
First Vice Speaker of the Federation Council Andriy Turchak offered to supply weapons to the self-proclaimed republics of Donbass. He stated that sending certain types of weapons to the region would increase their defense capability against the background of “military aggression clearly being prepared by Kiev.”
A few hours later, the head of the United Russia faction in the State Duma, Vladimir Vasiliev, said that the party had initiated an appeal to Vladimir Putin with a request to start deliveries of military products to the DPR and LPR.
The Federation Council called “absolutely correct” proposals for the supply of weapons to the self-proclaimed republics. As Vladimir Dzhabarov, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, told RBC, this should not cause indignation in the international community, since the United States and Great Britain supply weapons to Ukraine.
The head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, said that the republic needs funds to combat high-tech weapons, primarily Turkish-made Bayraktar attack drones, which are in service with the Ukrainian armed forces.
Washington recommended that its citizens in Ukraine “already consider the possibility of leaving the country by regular or private transport.” The US Embassy in Kiev warned that the situation could worsen at any moment and then it would be more difficult for the diplomatic mission to organize the evacuation of the Americans.
The US State Department says it sees signs that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine by mid-February. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said she did not know “whether he accepted [президент России Владимир Путин] final decision, but we definitely see every indication that he is going to use military force at some point.”
The recommendation of US diplomats provoked a nervous reaction in the foreign exchange market. The dollar rose by 1.75% and exceeded ₽80. For the first time in six months, the euro rose above ₽90 (+1.7%).
According to CNN, a US written response to Russia’s proposals for security guarantees could be sent as early as January 26. The broadcaster notes that the White House will not abandon NATO expansion. According to AFP, many of Russia’s proposals for security guarantees have been assessed by NATO as “unacceptable or unrealistic.” As stated in the State Department, Washington not only handed over the document to Kiev, but also took into account the position of the Ukrainian side in the answers that Moscow would receive.
As found out Reuters, representatives of US big business asked the Joe Biden administration and Congress not to immediately impose sanctions that are being prepared in case of a Russian “invasion” of Ukraine. Among them are representatives of Chevron, General Electric, who, among other things, fear the confiscation of their Russian assets.
Russia has not yet concentrated enough forces to “invade” Ukraine, but this does not mean that this will not happen later, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said. Today, Moscow’s main goal is to “sow panic,” the diplomat is sure.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg “lost touch with reality”, and therefore he does not follow his statements. This is how he commented on the alliance’s plans to strengthen its military presence in Eastern Europe.
Over 20 ships and vessels of the Black Sea Fleet entered the Black Sea for exercises from Sevastopol and Novorossiysk. The main focus of the exercises is the development of actions “to protect Russian national interests in the oceans”, as well as “to counter military threats from sea and ocean directions.”
State Department spokesman Ned Price said that against the backdrop of the situation around Ukraine, the Russian ruble and the stock market dropped to a low level, but this “cannot be compared with what awaits the country’s economy in the event of Moscow’s “aggression” against Kiev.
The United States promised to find alternative sources of gas for Europe in case of problems with supplies from Russia due to possible sanctions.