Thread by @alxgraef

Now public: On 22 December Russia send a verbal note to #Openskiestreaty members stating that w/o written guarantees until 1 January 2021 on data non-proliferation & territorial access, it might be forced to initiate withdrawing procedure. 1/5 sueddeutsche.de/politik/luftue…

2/5 Negative answer by 16 foreign ministers, including Heiko Maas and Jean-Yves Le Drian, followed on 30 December. They are ready to organize an extraordinary OSCC meeting but otherwise want to discuss the Russian initiative at the next ordinary session on 25 January.

3/5 Translated quote from SZ (not original): "We believe that the new condition expressed in your verbal note reflects a preference on your part as a necessity". Indeed, it is unclear, why Russia is forcing the review process of decision No. 9/02 that itself initiated in November

4/5 The Russian proposal for the decision amendment is still pending. Although most member states seem to be rather sceptical of it, the issue will be discussed. My view: No need to add verbal notes with deadlines that will hardly convince anybody. Counterproductive.

5/5 Yet, I also believe that Russia is serious. Moscow will leave the Treaty if there is no sign of good will and accommodation concerning its concerns whatsoever. All sides need to play this wisely in order to save the #Openskiestreaty. We are indeed at a crossroads.

CC @ElenaChernenko @shakirov2036 @SokovNikolai @KingstonAReif @steffanwatkins @Andreas_Persbo