RIAC Director Kortunov: Russia can stop NATO through arms control
Photo: Olivier Hoslet / Reuters
Russia may choose an alternative way to stop NATO's further eastward expansion, rather than press the alliance for blood oaths. Andrei Kortunov, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), an expert of the Valdai Club, spoke about this option in an interview with Lente.ru.
“The fact is that Russia is afraid of NATO's military infrastructure moving east, towards our borders. But after all, this infrastructure can be limited not by the fact that NATO will sign with blood, that it will not expand. And due to the fact that there will be some agreements on arms control that exclude the promotion of military infrastructure to the East, ”the specialist suggested.
He also did not rule out the conclusion of a “more radical agreement” that would exclude the possibility of the military development of Ukraine by NATO forces. “This is also a matter for discussion. But it is clear that the Russian proposals will face great opposition here,” he added.
This week, Russia held a series of talks in Europe on security guarantees in an attempt to get the US and NATO to agree to sign documents committing the alliance to halt its expansion into the former Soviet republics. The West assessed these proposals as unacceptable.
