'Each nation has sovereign right to choose its own path,’ NATO reaffirms as talks with Russia end
The meeting of the NATO-Russia Council held in Brussels on Jan. 12 was “not an easy discussion,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference following the crisis talks.
The meeting of the NATO-Russia Council held in Brussels on Jan. 12 was “not an easy discussion,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference following the crisis talks.
“That is exactly why this meeting was so important,” the secretary-general said, after the talks stretched on for an hour longer than the three that had been initially scheduled.
He stressed that NATO and Russia had a very serious and direct exchange on the situation in and around Ukraine, referring to the more than 100,000 Russian troops currently deployed near the Russian-Ukrainian boarder and Russia’s continued occupation of Ukrainian territory – as well as the implications of this for European security.
Stoltenberg said there are significant differences between NATO allies and Russia on various issues, but “it is a positive sign” that the NATO allies were able to sit down at the same table with Russia and engage on substantive topics.
Over the course of the meeting, Russia reiterated its demands for “security guarantees,” including on NATO’s non-expansion to the east.
In turn, the alliance reaffirmed NATO’s Open Door policy and the right for each nation to choose its own security arrangements.
“No one else has anything to say, and of course Russia does not have a veto (on states joining NATO),” Stoltenberg said.
He stressed that the alliance is ready to support Ukraine on its path to membership, help implement reforms, and meet NATO standards, and that it will be the alliance, and Ukraine, that take the final decision on Ukraine’s membership of NATO.
Stoltenberg also called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova – the Kremlin has deployed troops and occupied territory in all three countries.
“Both Russia and NATO allies expressed the need to resume dialogue and to explore a schedule of future meetings,” the secretary-general said.
“In particular, the (NATO) allies would like to discuss concrete ways to increase the transparency of military exercises, to prevent dangerous military incidents, and reduce space and cyber threats,” Stoltenberg said.
Today’s NATO-Russia Council meeting was held with the involvement of representatives of Russia and the 30 member states of NATO. Ukraine did not take part in the meeting.
The meeting in Brussels is one of a series of talks with Russia taking place in Europe this week.
The United States and Russia held a round of crisis talks in Geneva, Switzerland on Jan. 10, kicking off a week of high-level negotiations.
The next round of talks will take place at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Permanent Council meeting in Vienna on Jan. 13, this time with the involvement of Ukrainian representatives.
Russia was represented at today’s meeting by a delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.
This was the first such NATO-Russia Council meeting in more than two years.
Earlier, Stoltenberg announced the agenda of the discussion with Russia:
• issues related to European security;
• the situation in and around Ukraine;
• issues related to “military activity, mutual transparency and risk reduction.”
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