Moscow Has Received a Proposal for a NATO-Russia Council Meeting

According to Maria Zakharova, the format, modalities and timing of a possible meeting of the NATO-Russia Council have yet to be determined. Moscow has received an offer from the North Atlantic Alliance to hold a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council at the level of ambassadors in January and is considering it. This was stated by the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova during a briefing on Friday, December 24. “We have received such an offer. I can confirm this,” Zakharova stressed, adding that the initiative is being studied “on a practical level”. "We confirm our readiness for a direct dialogue with NATO on the Russian draft agreement on guaranteeing Russia's security,” she said. According to Zakharova, the format, modalities and timing of a possible meeting have yet to be determined. “But, as I said, we are open to dialogue,” she concluded. NATO Secretary General insisted on a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council On December 21, the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, said that to discuss the tense situation on the border of Ukraine with Russia, he would like to convene a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council at the beginning of next year. Prior to that, negotiations in this format took place in July 2019. Since then, all attempts to set a new date have failed, in particular, since the Kremlin refused to discuss the situation in eastern Ukraine at the council level, experts noted. Borrell: NATO plays a key role in ensuring peace in Europe The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, stressed on December 22 that he considers the North Atlantic Alliance’s proposal to hold a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in response to the publication by the Russian Federation of two draft treaties “affecting the structure of European security” to be an “important step”. The documents are addressed to the United States and members of the North Atlantic Alliance, respectively. “NATO plays a key role in ensuring peace in Europe,” Borrell said in this regard. Russia demanded to exclude Ukraine’s accession to NATO Last week, Russia demanded to exclude Ukraine from joining NATO and suggested that the alliance abandon military operations in countries neighboring Russia. The relevant provisions of the Foreign Ministry were included in the draft security treaties that were sent to Washington and NATO member countries. The United States stated that a dialogue with Moscow on security guarantees is possible only in conditions of de-escalation at the borders of Ukraine and in coordination with European allies and partners. DW