1. The talks went, by and large, as #Russia/n party expected it to go:
a) #US took most RUS proposals seriously, elaborated thru them;
b) US sought to tie RUS proposals to issues of strategic stability & missile deployments
c) US sought to make it “protracted negotiation process”
a) #US took most RUS proposals seriously, elaborated thru them;
b) US sought to tie RUS proposals to issues of strategic stability & missile deployments
c) US sought to make it “protracted negotiation process”
2.#Russia made clear it wasn’t interested in linking strat stability conversation to security guarantees conversation – at least in the way the #US wants it.
Ryabkov: “Legal guarantees on the issue of @NATO non-(further)expansion are of the prime significance for Russia”
Ryabkov: “Legal guarantees on the issue of @NATO non-(further)expansion are of the prime significance for Russia”
3. That’s what I discussed @WarOnTheRocks – @POTUS “walking and chewing a gum” policy towards #Russia is thus made difficult now, if at all possible.
warontherocks.com/2022/01/what-i…
warontherocks.com/2022/01/what-i…
4.#Russia also made it clear that in the coming Madrid summit it wants NATO to enshrine its “NO” to #Ukraine & #Georgia’s aspirations to join the alliance. This seems the most undoable part of the deal but also the one Russia truly cares about.
5. Ryabkov “#Russia needs “ironclad guarantees” that #Ukraine and #Georgia will never become members of @NATO.. by refusing to discuss our demands on NATO’s non-enlargement #US seriously underestimate the seriousness of the situation”
6. #Ukraine, that seems big on #US/West's agenda was brushed off early on by Ryabkov saying “There’re no intentions to invade Ukraine. #Russia doesn’t have these intentions & simply cannot have them”.
7. #US predictably wanted to make sure #Russia doesn’t seek to use nukes as its step 2 (if the talks fail). RUS happily reiterated this statement cuz no one wants to destroy the other. But the promised Russian “military technical response” may include...
8. ..all kinds of other things, including mil deployments and God knows what else- it’s not MFA’s portfolio then – perhaps that’s why deputy defense minister Alexander Fomin (in the picture) was also at the talks in Geneva.
9. Ryabkov said #Russia will decide on the future of the talks after meeting within @NATO-Russian Council and with the OSCE. This doesn’t sound reassuring, cuz Russia unlikely to hear something promising from NATO.
10. I would pprobably assess this round as “moderate progress on the margins but insurmountable disagreements at the core”.. agree with those who don’t see how we proceed from here.. but see what comes on Wednesday..
P.S. #Russia/n & China’s For Ministers spoke on the phone in the evening (Moscow time).Wang Yi “positively assessed” #CSTO measures to restore order in #Kazakhstan, both “agreed to coordinate” contacts on the issue. Lavrov briefed Yi on talks in Geneva.Putin goes to #China in Feb
P.P.S. Ryabkov got sick & tired of @Bloomberg for "broadcasting an American stance" & constantly misrepresenting #Russia's position: “You know, Roquefort cheese — to make things a little bit stinkier? That’s what Bloomberg does.”
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
