Sergei Lavrov Expects Clarifications from Individual Western Countries on Russia's Security

Despite the threatening war scenario around Ukraine, for now the diplomatic dialogue between Moscow and the West continues.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has sent a letter to his Western counterparts asking for clarification on the important security issue for the Kremlin, how Western countries understand their obligation not to strengthen their own security at the expense of Russia's security.

Text of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Mr. Sergey Lavrov`s written message on Indivisibility of Security addressed to the Heads of Foreign / External Affairs Ministers / Secretaries of the US, Canada and several European countries:

"You are well aware that Russia is seriously concerned about increasing politico-military tensions in the immediate vicinity of its western borders. With a view to avoiding any further escalation, the Russian side presented on 15 December 2021 the drafts of two interconnected international legal documents – a Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Security Guarantees and an Agreement on Measures to Ensure the Security of the Russian Federation and Member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The U.S. and NATO responses to our proposals received on 26 January 2022 demonstrate serious differences in the understanding of the principle of equal and indivisible security that is fundamental to the entire European security architecture. We believe it is necessary to immediately clarify this issue, as it will determine the prospects for future dialogue. …