US and NATO Respond to Russia's Proposals, According to Pais

The Spanish newspaper Pais claims to have obtained the response from the United States and NATO regarding Russia's proposals for security guarantees.

According to RIA Novosti, the relevant file has been published in the online version of the newspaper titled 'Documents Provided by NATO and the US in Response to the Agreements Proposed by Russia on December 17.'

The materials presented state that Washington is ready to discuss the following issues with Moscow:

• A mechanism for not deploying Tomahawk cruise missiles in Romania and Poland
• Mutual obligations to limit the deployment of offensive missile systems and forces in Ukraine
• An alternative START-3 agreement (a treaty on further reduction and limitation measures of strategic offensive arms between the Russian Federation and the United States), which also pertains to new types of nuclear weapons, as well as the control of intermediate and shorter-range missiles
• Additional measures to prevent incidents at sea and in the air

It is noted that the West has also emphasized its restraint from deploying nuclear weapons in Eastern Europe.

Overall, the American side and NATO are prepared to discuss signing a security document with Russia. At the same time, NATO has stated that it does not desire confrontation but will not make concessions on fundamental issues.

On December 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry circulated two drafts of documents regarding the provision of legal security guarantees by the United States and the North Atlantic Alliance. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on NATO to start substantial negotiations aimed at providing Russia with reliable and long-term security guarantees. He clarified that legal guarantees are what Moscow needs since Western partners have not fulfilled their corresponding verbal commitments.