Dmitry Suslov, a Valdai Club expert who is also Deputy Director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics, told TASS prior to the Russia-NATO Council meeting that “he believes that the Russia-NATO meeting is going to be much less meaningful and productive than the talks between Moscow and Washington in Geneva, since numerous countries taking part in this meeting consider Russia’s demands unacceptable. `Of course, it will be impossible to agree on anything. The alliance will strongly reject Russia’s demands to prevent NATO’s further advancement to the east,’ the expert noted.” Suslov’s forecast turned out to be accurate.
Suslov added: “Russia will have to make important decisions. First of all, regarding the ways to ensure guarantees of non-expansion on part of NATO. I think that there is no alternative to further escalation of tension, military pressure on NATO and the U.S."—a warning that had previously been issued by both President Vladimir Putin and Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov. (https://tass.com/politics/1386571)
