Putin threatens the West with actions of a “military and technical” nature

Last week, Russia listed in writing to the United States and NATO the security guarantees that it hopes to obtain in exchange for ending tensions with Ukraine, on whose border, according to different sources, it has about 200,000 troops deployed prepared to intervene in any moment.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin assures that he has not yet received any response from the West and also notes a position on the part of the “increasingly belligerent” allies. So he has hinted that he is losing patience and threatened to undertake actions of a “military and technical” nature.

“In the event that our Western colleagues maintain this obviously very aggressive stance, we will adopt appropriate measures of a military and technical nature,” Putin declared in his speech to the top of the Defense Ministry. In his words, “the reinforcement of US and NATO military contingents near Russia’s borders, as well as the organization of large-scale maneuvers, are a serious source of concern.”

In the opinion of the head of the Kremlin, the blame for the current escalation of tension in Europe “is on the US” because, Putin added, “every step it takes forces Russia to respond in some way.” The Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigú, for his part, also stressed that Washington is expanding its military apparatus “with a total of about 8,000 troops in the countries of Eastern Europe.”

So Putin on Tuesday made a new call to address without delay the negotiations with the United States and NATO on the “security guarantees” that Moscow considers unquestionable. In the proposals, contained in two separate documents and presented on December 17, Moscow demands that Ukraine not join NATO or any other neighboring state, limit the presence of the Alliance in Eastern countries and prohibit the emplacement of medium-range missiles and nuclear weapons in the Old Continent.

But Putin has warned that the West “is dragging its feet not to make concessions” to Moscow. In his opinion, “verbal guarantees are not sufficient (…) they would have to be given in writing.” The Foreign Ministry announced that “there is still no official response to the Russian proposals on security guarantees.”

“Unacceptable” lawsuits

NATO sources consulted by the ‘Financial Times’ newspaper maintain that most of Putin’s demands are “unacceptable”, but there is no desire to reject them outright for fear that the situation on the border with Ukraine will worsen. The White House spokeswoman, Jennifer Psaki, has warned, for her part, that “only Kiev and the Alliance should decide on Ukraine’s accession to NATO.” For the former US ambassador to Moscow, Michael McFaul, the Russian proposals on security guarantees are “an ultimatum for the US and NATO.” Speaking to Echo Moscow radio, he said he was not sure the Kremlin wants serious talks.

The US has recommended that its citizens not travel to Ukraine due to the pandemic, but, above all, because of the “growing threats” from Russia to invade the country. The situation “is unpredictable and can deteriorate in a short time,” says the State Department, which fears that a sudden evacuation is not feasible.