Moscow – Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced today (Tuesday) to his US counterpart Joe Biden the growing military potential of NATO along Russia’s borders and called for “guarantees” about the Alliance’s non-extension to the east.
“NATO makes dangerous attempts to use Ukrainian territory and reinforces its military potential close to our borders, and so Russia maintains a serious interest in secure legal guarantees that preclude an eastward enlargement of NATO,” the Kremlin said in a statement. , after a virtual “frank and professional” meeting between the Russian and American Presidents.
The Kremlin has dismissed any invasion project and has accused Washington of neglecting its concerns: increased activity by NATO countries in the Black Sea, Ukrainian intention to join the Atlantic Alliance and Kiev’s ambition to continue to receive weapons from the West.
“Russia never intended to attack anyone, but we have red lines,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov had assured before the virtual summit.
Several observers in Europe and the US consider that Vladimir Putin is “bluffing” with the deployment of forces to Ukraine’s borders, but they do not exclude possible military action. For Moscow, the possibility is excluded and Ukraine and Georgia, located next to its “safe zone” are members of NATO.
At the virtual summit that took place between the two leaders today, Joe Biden “made it known” to Vladimir Putin, in a virtual conference between the two leaders, that Russia risks “strong sanctions, including economic ones” in case of military escalation in Ukraine, he indicated today the White House.
It was the second meeting between the two leaders, after a face-to-face meeting held last June in Geneva (Switzerland).
Following his telephone conversation with Putin, which according to Russian news agencies lasted about two hours and ended around 17:00 Lisbon, Biden will telephone French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Source: Angola Press News Agency