US delivers response to Russian demands amid Ukraine crisis

Proposals build on US offers made to Moscow, but stop short of meeting demands on Ukraine, NATO

‘We’re ready either way’: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Washington on Wednesday, says it remains up to Russia how it decides to respond. Picture: AFP

The US gave Russia written proposals to constrain military competition and reduce the risk of war in Europe, seeking to address Moscow’s demands and avert what may be a looming Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The proposals, requested by Russia, were delivered on ­Wednesday night to the Russian Foreign Ministry by the US ­ambassador in Moscow, John Sullivan.

US officials said in earlier negotiations that Washington and its allies were prepared to scale back military exercises on a reciprocal basis and to explore ideas on ways to limit intermediate-range missiles in Europe.

The new US proposals expand on that approach but don’t meet Russian demands that NATO not allow Ukraine into the alliance and cut military ties with the country, according to people familiar with the matter.

The latest diplomatic efforts leave Russian President Vladimir Putin with the choice on whether to reject the US proposals outright and pursue military action or seek further negotiations on security issues. “It remains up to Russia to decide how to respond,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. “We’re ready either way.”

Russia’s demands are aimed at rewriting post-Cold War security arrangements in Europe and carving out a new sphere of influence for Moscow. The build-up of Russian forces around Ukraine in recent months has created a crisis and forced the US and NATO to address what Moscow sees as decades-old security grievances.

The Kremlin has called for an end to the enlargement of NATO to the east, for ending the alliance’s military assistance to former Soviet republics like Ukraine and for rolling back allied military deployments on NATO’s eastern flank, closest to Russia.

The US document follows two earlier Russian proposals: Moscow’s draft treaty with the US on security in Europe and a separate draft accord with NATO.

Russia posted those draft agreements on the foreign ministry website in December, and demanded the US provide a response in writing.

Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the Russian Federation Council’s foreign affairs committee, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti: “The US response to the security guarantees proposed by Moscow cannot satisfy Russia.

“It cannot be accepted.”

Before transmitting their proposals to Moscow, US officials shared a confidential paper with European allies this week outlining potential ideas so they could provide input. Allied officials said the US ideas focus heavily on arms control and on ways to make military activities in Europe more transparent.

One idea, according to allied officials and people briefed by the administration, would allow inspection of US ballistic missile defence sites in Poland and Romania, which are intended to counter Iranian missiles that might threaten Europe. Moscow has complained the systems could be used to launch cruise missiles at Russian territory, an allegation the US has rebuffed.

Inspections would be intended to reassure Russia the launchers couldn’t be used for ­offensive purposes. The US has said it would seek reciprocal actions from Russia in any talks on intermediate-range missiles but hasn’t spelled out the details publicly.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said Mr Putin could decide to take military action soon. “I have no idea whether he’s made the ultimate decision, but we certainly see every indication that he is going to use military force sometime, perhaps now and the middle of February,” she told a forum.

The Wall Street Journal