The Kremlin read-outs on President Putin’s calls on Dec. 21 to a number of heads of state and government underscore the Russian government’s single-minded focus on the strategic danger facing the planet. In his discussion with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, “Vladimir Putin spoke about the Russian proposals on long-term legally binding security guarantees that rule out any further expansion of NATO eastwards and the deployment of offensive weapons systems in the countries adjacent to Russia…. Hope was expressed that serious talks would be organized on all issues raised by Russia.” (http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67427)
A second Kremlin statement reported that Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron “continued discussing ways of enhancing stability and security in Europe, with a focus on the drafts of a Russia-U.S. treaty on security guarantees and an agreement on measures to ensure the security of Russia and the NATO member countries, which were sent to the addressees, including France, and then published. Vladimir Putin informed his French counterpart of Russia’s diplomatic efforts in this area.” (http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67426)
