Understanding the standoff between Russia and NATO in 4 points
Geneva, Brussels, Vienna: the week is Russian for Europe. Can we avoid war? What are Moscow, Washington, Kiev and the Twenty-Seven at risk?
–NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg defends the principle of the right of each nation to choose the type of security agreement it wants to be part of, and therefore the right of Ukraine to join NATO. Brussels, January 10, 2022
KEYSTONE
After Geneva on Monday, Russian envoy Sergei Riabkov is in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss Ukraine’s fate before NATO. The Military Alliance led by Washington is worried about the troops massed by Moscow on the border of its Slavic neighbor. Four keys to understanding this imbroglio.
How far to negotiate?
Russia wants to negotiate two treaties: one would prohibit NATO from carrying out military exercises near the Russian border, the other would prevent the Atlantic Alliance from welcoming new countries from the former Soviet bloc into its ranks. (Ukraine and Georgia). For its part, the United States refuses to take decisions that belong to sovereign countries in Europe. “We will not allow anyone to close NATO’s open door policy,” repeated Washington envoy Wendy Sherman.
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