Feb 15, 2022 at 2:11 p.m. I Updated at 19:44
The Russian president met with the German chancellor.
MOSCOW. Mask is ready to negotiate with the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on measures to build mutual trust. The Russian president announced this on Tuesday Vladimir Putin after negotiations with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
According to Putin, Russia does not want a war, so it has submitted security proposals regarding the situation in Europe. TASR informs about this on the basis of reports from AP and RIA Novosti agencies.
“I repeat, we have received answers from the United States and other members ONTO “We do not include the three key Russian requirements … but there are some considerations that we are not only ready to negotiate, but have in fact already offered to our partners in previous years,” Putin said.
Scholz: NATO enlargement is not planned
The Russian president clarified that these were issues related to European security and certain weapons systems. “We mean medium- and short-range missiles and military transparency,” Putin said.
The German chancellor said he agreed that “diplomatic options are far from exhausted,” and welcomed Russia’s statement on Tuesday that some of its troops were withdrawing from areas near the Ukrainian border.
“It is clear to Europeans that lasting security can only be achieved with Russia.
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“It’s a good sign anyway. We hope more will follow,” he said Scholz with Russia being an important element in maintaining security in Europe. “It is clear to Europeans that lasting security … can only be achieved with Russia,” Scholz said.
According to Scholz, NATO is also not currently planning to expand, so current governments should not address this issue now.
“Enlargement is not planned, it is not being discussed, it is not on the agenda. We do not have to address this issue while we are in our posts,” Scholz told a joint news conference with Putin.
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Scholz avoided the answer regarding sanctions
“Everyone understands what is happening … We want a peaceful development of the situation in Europe so that the situation in Ukraine does not result in war. If that happens, it would have huge consequences, it is clear to us all. But in any case, we know what should we do … I thought this was clear to all parties, “Scholz said.
According to TASS, Scholz thus avoided a direct answer to the question concerning the introduction of sanctions against the pipeline.
According to the Russian president, the North Stream 2 gas pipeline is supposed to contribute to Europe’s energy security and has no political “coloring”.
“It is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe … which aims to help address Europe-wide economic and environmental challenges … It is a purely commercial project that has no political color,” Putin said.
Some European politicians and experts accuse Russia of using its natural resources as a political tool and call for a reduction in dependence on Russian supplies of these commodities.
Putin’s meeting with Scholz
Putin and Scholz met in Moscow to ease tensions and concerns in the West over Russia’s possible attack on Ukraine.
“Unfortunately, we will have to devote considerable space to issues related to the situation in Europe and security,” Putin said at the beginning of the meeting with Scholz, adding that they would also discuss Ukraine and energy issues.
Scholz and Putin sat at opposite ends of the six-meter table during the meeting, similar to the meeting between the Kremlin chief and the French president. Emmanuel Macron last week. The reason is that both Scholz and Macron refused to be tested by a Russian test after arriving in Moscow. coronavirus.
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Scholz, who landed in Moscow on Tuesday morning, was tested on board the plane by a doctor from the German embassy in Russia, taking the test from his homeland.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that these circumstances and the greater physical distance between Putin and Scholz “will have no effect on the nature of the negotiations, their content or duration.” He added that this is a comprehensive interview.
Scholz had previously met Zelenský
On Monday, Scholz met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev, whom he assured of continued support for Kiev by Berlin.
Western countries have warned Moscow that they will impose extensive economic sanctions in the event of an attack on Ukraine, including against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, which aims to double Russian gas supplies to Europe.
Russia announced on Tuesday that began to withdraw some of his troops deployed near the Ukrainian border, which could indicate a desecration effort. However, Moscow also added that this was a pre-planned and normal procedure after the end of the exercises in the Southern and Western Military Circuits.