Moscow, Feb 23, (dpa/GNA) – Russian President, Vladimir Putin, slammed the West on Wednesday for failing to respond to his demand for security guarantees, which he called “non-negotiable” amid a growing diplomatic and military stand-off over Ukraine.
“Our country is always open for direct and open dialogue, for the quest for diplomatic solutions to difficult problems,” he said in a video message released to mark Defence of the Fatherland Day, a day set aside to honour the armed services.
“But I repeat: The interests of Russia and the security of our citizens are non-negotiable for us,” he said.
The West has been scrambling for a response after Russia recognized the independence of two eastern regions of Ukraine, that have been occupied by Russia-backed separatists locked in combat with Ukrainian forces since 2014.
Moscow has taken steps that would allow it to send troops, with some saying that Russian troops are already on the ground.
The West has responded with a flurry of sanctions for what it calls a violation of international norms. But Russia has indicated that it is prepared for the sanctions.
The US and European countries had warned for weeks that Russia had hostile intentions. Russia responded that it was seeking guarantees that NATO forces would no longer operate forces in Eastern Europe, even in NATO member countries, and that Ukrainian NATO membership would be permanently off the table.
Putin has said he needs a response to those requests because his country cannot be asked to put its security at risk because of the needs of another country. Putin has repeatedly indicated that he thinks NATO’s eastward expansion is a threat to Russia.
“Today, securing the ability of our country’s defence forces remains the most important duty of the state,” he said.
GNA