In a wide-ranging press conference today, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reviewed Russia’s foreign policy performance for 2021 and had some very pointed remarks to make about relations with the West and the potential for conflict, which he said had been increased by Western actions. “Their policy consists of undermining the architecture of international relations based on the UN Charter, as well as replacing international law with their own ‘rules’ and imposing them on others to build a new world order,” he said.
He minced no words in identifying the West’s belligerence, and said Moscow expects that the United States and NATO to furnish written responses on the issue of Russia’s security guarantees. “We are waiting for our colleagues to provide their answers in writing, just as we did with our proposals. We will continue working to prepare for any eventuality,” he pointed out.
“We are convinced that mutually acceptable solutions can be found when there is good will and readiness for compromise,” Lavrov stressed. Responding to a question, he stated: “We are waiting for a written response. We have reason to believe that our partners have realized the need to do this quickly, with specificity, and in writing. We won’t wait forever,” according to the Foreign Ministry transcript.
Lavrov noted that at the beginning of last year, Moscow and Washington had managed to extend the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) for five years without any conditions, which was what Russia had called for. “We appreciate that it was one of the first steps made by the Biden administration after it had assumed office.”
Lavrov stressed that “There are plans to drag out this process. Frankly, everyone knows that reaching an agreement depends on the United States. Whatever they are telling us about the need to consult with their allies and involve all OSCE members in the talks, those are excuses and attempts to drag out the process.
“When Russia and NATO were establishing relations, when they signed the Founding Act and reached a decision to establish the Russia-NATO Council—Moscow and the North Atlantic Alliance reached some political agreements in the process, which had to do with how we would behave in terms of the configuration of armed forces and weapons going forward—no one had to be consulted. It never occurred to anyone. Neither with the OSCE, nor with the European Union, which now gets bitter whenever it feels left out (as conveyed by [High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy] Josep Borrell). This is a whole new topic for discussion.
“We want to see their position on paper, to get a specific comment on each of our points in both documents—which of them are acceptable, which aren’t and why. If something needs to be added, they could formulate amendments,” Lavrov specified. (https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/1794396/)
