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The second round of security consultations between Russia and NATO is taking place on Wednesday, January 12, TASS reports. This is the first meeting in nearly three years.
The Brussels meeting is a continuation of the talks between Moscow and Washington, which took place two days ago. The heads of the alliance have already promised to listen to Russia's concerns and even expressed their readiness for dialogue. At the same time, they rejected the possibility of compromises, especially on NATO's eastward expansion.
The Russian delegation is headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.
NATO stressed that the alliance does not consider it possible to discuss the issue of withdrawing to the 1997 borders. Back then, Russia and NATO signed the Founding Act, in which they confirmed that "they do not regard each other as enemies." Since then, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia have become NATO members. NATO currently unites 30 countries.
NATO believes that the conflict in Ukraine will become another important topic of the meeting..
Russia's security requirements are addressed to the United States and European countries; Moscow has not sent them to the European Union and NATO. The requirements come down to three points: American nuclear weapons should be withdrawn from Europe, NATO military forces should not be deployed near the borders of Russia, NATO should officially reject to draw Ukraine and Georgia into the alliance.
Russkiy Mir
