US State Department Calls Leaked NATO Document Authentic

WASHINGTON – State Department spokesman Ned Price said written response United States of America (USA) and NATO to security demands Russia , which was leaked to the Spanish newspaper El Pais, is genuine. But both the US State Department and the Pentagon have denied being behind the leak.

Originally intended to remain classified, the document published by El Pais on Wednesday revealed that the US and NATO had rejected Russia’s request for the alliance to halt its eastward expansion.

NATO also reiterated its support for the right of other countries to choose or change security arrangements, rebuked Russia’s requests not to accept Ukraine or a new member, and asked Moscow to withdraw from Ukraine, indicating that the bloc wants Russia to hand over control of Crimea to Kiev.

Also read: Defuse Tensions, US and NATO Offer Disarmament Measures to Russia

“We didn’t publish these documents, but now, we can confirm what we’ve always said,” Price told reporters at a news conference.

“We are united with our NATO allies. We have worked harder to seek, find, test the proposition that there is a diplomatic solution to this crisis,” he added Russia Today, Thursday (3/2/2022).

Price’s remarks are nearly identical to those previously made by Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who also denied that the US was behind the leak, but said the document was now open.

Both Price and Kirby outright denied allegations that another NATO ally could have leaked the files to El Pais.

Asked to directly confirm the veracity of the files, Price replied: “I see nothing to suggest that these documents are not authentic.”

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