NATO Proposes Security Talks with Russia on 12th Next Month... "Negotiations on Ukraine Situation"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has announced that it has proposed to Russia to hold a NATO-Russia Council (NRC) security meeting on the 12th of next month. Depending on the progress of this meeting, the scheduled Geneva negotiations with the United States are also expected to be actively pursued.

According to foreign media including the Associated Press on the 26th (local time), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated at a press conference that "We have proposed to Russia to hold the NRC on the 12th of next month to discuss the Ukraine situation." It is known that Russia is also reviewing NATO's proposal. If the bilateral meeting takes place, negotiations related to the security guarantees proposed by Russia to the United States and NATO on the 17th are expected to proceed.

Earlier, Russia announced that the meeting with the United States scheduled to be held next month in Geneva, Switzerland, has no specific schedule announced yet. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a press briefing, "NATO's proposal is currently under review by the Russian government, and specific meeting schedules with the U.S. side are still being coordinated." The schedule for the meeting with the United States is also expected to be disclosed depending on the progress of the NRC between NATO and Russia.

However, there are concerns that even if the NRC is held, it will not be easy to narrow the differences between NATO and Russia. Russia has repeatedly stated that NATO membership for neighboring countries such as Sweden and Finland, following Ukraine, is unacceptable, and it hopes NATO will legally guarantee this. Additionally, Russia demands the cessation of NATO's military activities in Eastern Europe, which NATO is expected to find difficult to accept.

Secretary General Stoltenberg also drew a line, saying, "The right of Ukraine to apply for NATO membership and NATO's right to defend its member states will never be compromised."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.