NATO to Respond to Russian Security Proposals, Secretary General Says

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has announced that the alliance will send a written response to Russian proposals regarding security guarantees this week, in coordination with the United States.

“We are finalizing a written document in response to the proposals sent to NATO, which we will send out by the end of this week. We will do this together with the United States,” Stoltenberg said in an interview with CNN.

On December 17, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs circulated two draft documents concerning the provision of legal security guarantees from the U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on NATO to begin substantive negotiations aimed at ensuring reliable and long-term security guarantees for Russia. He clarified that Moscow needs exactly legal guarantees, as Western partners have not fulfilled their respective verbal commitments.