Russia doesn't want conflict with Ukraine but the West must provide 'unconditional security guarantees', Putin says

December 23, 2021

Russia doesn't want conflict with Ukraine but Western powers must provide Moscow with "unconditional security guarantees", President Vladimir Putin has said.

Speaking at his annual news conference, Mr Putin said the US has missiles at "Russia's doorstep" and the "ball is in the West's court" in relation to security in the region.

The conference comes as Western powers fear Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine as early as the beginning of next year, which President Putin has again denied.

The Russian leader has welcomed talks with the US that are set to start in Geneva next month, but warned the discussions about Moscow's demands need to produce quick results.

"We want to ensure our security," Mr Putin said. "We put it straight: there must be no further expansion of NATO eastward."

Asked by Sky's Moscow correspondent Diana Magnay whether he can guarantee Russia won't invade Ukraine or any other sovereign country, or whether this depends on the negotiations, Mr Putin said: "Our actions will depend not on the negotiation process but on the unconditional security of Russia. Today and towards the historical perspective.

"In this sense we have made it clear that any further NATO movement to the East is unacceptable, there is nothing unclear about this.

"We are not deploying our missiles over at the border of the US. On the other hand, the US is deploying its missiles close to our home, on the doorstep of our house."

Putin says NATO 'fooled' Russia and keeps expanding

The Russian president continued: "What would the Americans think if we decided to come to the border between Canada and the United States, or Mexico, and simply deploy our own missiles over there?"

Mr Putin later said that NATO had "fooled" Russia by saying it would not expand eastwards across Europe in an agreement made in 1990.

He said since then the alliance had carried out "five waves of expansion" that went against that guarantee.

Waving his finger, Mr Putin said: "And you keep demanding some guarantees from us. You must give us the guarantees. It is up to you, and you must do this immediately, right now, instead of talking about this for decades.

"Using this small talk, soft talk, about the need for guarantees of the security for everyone. We are not threatening anybody."

Russia-Ukraine border: What is happening and will tensions lead to war?

Last week, Moscow submitted draft security documents demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back the alliance's military deployments in central and Eastern Europe.

A key principle of the NATO alliance is that membership is open to any qualifying country. The US and its allies have said they will not give Russia the kind of guarantee on Ukraine that Mr Putin wants.

Moscow presented its demand amid soaring tensions over a Russian troop build-up near Ukraine that has stoked fears of a possible invasion. US President Joe Biden warned Mr Putin in a conference call earlier this month that Russia will face "severe consequences" if it attacks Ukraine.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has spoken to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and she said they agreed that any Russian incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake and have severe consequences.

They also agreed NATO and the G7 group of industrialised nations are united in supporting Ukraine and that Russia needs to engage in talks that respect sovereignty.

Also, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the head of the UK's military, has spoken to his Russian counterpart amid the tensions.

The Ministry of Defence said the two military leaders discussed regional security issues and the importance of maintaining communications to understand each other's intentions and avoid miscalculation.

Russian leader says West has supported terrorists

Asked by Diana Magnay what he thinks the West doesn't understand about Russia, Mr Putin replied: "Sometimes it seems to me that we live in two different worlds.

"You say you will not expand and then you keep expanding. You say we will have equal guarantees for everyone on a number of international agreements, and then we see there is no equality or no equal security."

Mr Putin went on to say that in the 1990s, the Soviet Union did everything it could to build good relations with the United States and the West.

He added that CIA advisers were able to visit Russian military nuclear sites.

Mr Putin continued: "What else did you need? Why did you have to support the terrorists in the North Caucasus and use the terrorist organisations to reach your goals and break down the Russian federation?

"This is exactly what you were doing, and as a former director of the FSB I know that."

Putin says Russia is not preparing to invade Ukraine

The conference comes a day after Mr Putin threatened a "military-technical response" if Western countries continue with what he calls "unfriendly" actions over Ukraine.

Concerns are growing that Russia is planning to invade its neighbour with thousands of troops gathering near the border.

Russia has denied it is preparing a military advance.

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