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The negotiations on security guarantees between Moscow and Washington began the day before, January 9, in Geneva, TASS reports.
Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov highly appreciated the meeting with First Deputy Head of the American Department, Wendy Sherman, which took place the day before. The conversation turned out to be difficult, but businesslike, he said.
Ryabkov emphasized that during the negotiations Russia was not going to make concessions. The senior diplomat is sure that they are completely out of question. Sergei Ryabkov clarified that the one-sided approach, which the US and NATO had adopted, cannot be the ground for a dialogue on security guarantees. At the same time, the diplomat is sure that there are always chances to come to an agreement.
On the night of December 31, Russian and American presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden had a telephone conversation. The leaders of the two states discussed a number of issues, including security guarantees. Moscow hopes that the conversation will make it possible to reach a compromise, taking into account the positions of both countries.
Prior to this conversation, Washington had received from Russia drafts of a bilateral agreement on security guarantees and an agreement on security measures for the Russian Federation and NATO countries. The document combines eight sections that cover all aspects of mutual security assurances. The document covers the solutions of the accumulated problems and threats.
It is planned that these guarantees will be discussed in negotiations with Washington today. In two days, consultations with the NATO are planned, and the next day, representatives of Moscow are meeting with the OSCE.
Russkiy Mir
