Russia is ready to formalize legally binding guarantees with NATO countries only on a reciprocal basis, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
„Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly emphasized that we have never had and do not have any aggressive plans against NATO countries. And we are ready to formalize legally binding security guarantees, but only, of course, on a reciprocal basis“, said Grushko.
He recalled that at the end of 2021, Russia proposed security guarantee agreements with the US and NATO, but Washington and Brussels rejected them. And today, Grushko noted, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that “after Ukraine“ “Russia's next target is us“.
“The actions of the North Atlantic Alliance and its European member states confirm these words. They are actively preparing for what they consider an “inevitable“ armed conflict with our country“, said the Deputy Minister.