Russia will not endlessly wait for a response to proposals from the US and NATO on security guarantees, said Konstantin Gavrilov, who heads the Russian delegation at the talks in Vienna. Issues of military security and arms control are being discussed in the Austrian capital.
“The counter is ticking. Our leaders have already said that the question is not about months, the question is not even about weeks,” Gavrilov said on the YouTube channel “Izolenta live”, noting that Russia is waiting for a written answer and hopes to receive him next week.
Gavrilov said that if the West ignores the demands, then Russia “will draw conclusions and will defend its security in Europe by other means and methods.”
“And both Europeans and Americans will feel it on their necks,” the diplomat added.
Earlier, the Russian diplomatic department said that the White House, instead of responding, launched toxic propaganda campaignrepresenting Russia as “the aggressor and enemy of civilized Europe”.
In December 2021, Russia proposed draft treaties with the United States and agreements with NATO on security assurances. Moscow demands to abandon the expansion of NATO to the east, joining the bloc of Ukraine and the creation of military bases of the alliance near the Russian borders.
Several meetings were held between representatives of Russia and the United States on security guarantees. One of the last – meeting between Sergey Lavrov and Anthony Blinken in Geneva.