US Ambassador Delivers Written Response to Kremlin Ultimatum to Russian Foreign Ministry. NATO Calls Emergency Press Conference

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to resume cooperation and withdraw troops from Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan on Wednesday evening delivered Washington's written response to Moscow's demands for security guarantees to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg convened an emergency press conference, where he called on Russia to withdraw its troops from occupied territories of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, and proposed resuming cooperation.

Also, speaking at the State Department, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the details of the written response to Putin’s “security guarantees” — according to it, the US will not abandon the principle of NATO’s open door policy for Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has reviewed the written response and stated that it raises no objections and takes into account Ukraine’s key interests.

Blinken’s Comment

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed details of Washington’s response to Moscow’s demands.

Antony Blinken
US Secretary of State

Today the US ambassador delivered our response in Moscow. It outlines a serious diplomatic path, if Moscow chooses it. The document delivered includes the concerns of the US and our allies and partners regarding Russia’s actions that undermine security; a principled and pragmatic assessment of the concerns Russia has expressed; and our proposals in areas where we can find common ground.

According to him, the US response made clear that it will defend its key principles, in particular the “open door” policy of NATO.

Antony Blinken
US Secretary of State

These include Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the right of states to choose their own security arrangements and alliances. We have considered mutual transparency measures on the deployment of positions in Ukraine, as well as confidence-building measures regarding military exercises and maneuvers in Europe.

Blinken stressed that the US is ready to continue dialogue with Russia on areas where cooperation is still possible. He expects to speak with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov in the coming days, after Moscow has reviewed the US response.

According to him, the US and Russia can cooperate on strike missile systems, transparency of exercises, and arms control.

Blinken said the decision on further steps remains with Russia.

He also added that another batch of US military aid will arrive in Ukraine in the coming days, and the US embassy in Kyiv continues to operate.

Stoltenberg’s Press Conference

The North Atlantic Alliance (NATO) also handed Russia its response on “security guarantees.” The document was delivered to the Russian ambassador in Belgium, where the alliance’s headquarters is located. This was reported by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during the press conference.

Jens Stoltenberg
NATO Secretary General

NATO has prepared its response to Russia. We did this in parallel with the United States. We must continue dialogue along the Moscow-Brussels line. We are ready to hear the questions that concern Russia and to conduct dialogue based on the principles of European security.

Stoltenberg also named the issues NATO is ready to discuss with Russia:

• withdrawal of intermediate- and shorter-range missiles;
• reducing threats in cyberspace;
• reducing threats posed by space weapons.

NATO proposes that Russia resume dialogue on military exercises, arms control, missiles, space and nuclear weapons. According to the secretary general, Russia is also offered to establish a direct communication line and make maximum use of military contacts to avoid incidents.

“I believe these issues can be the subject of a discussion that will be beneficial for all of us,” he said.

According to Stoltenberg, the Alliance does not plan to abandon the “open door” policy.

Jens Stoltenberg
NATO Secretary General

We have made it clear that we will not compromise on a nation’s right to choose its own path. NATO respects countries’ decisions to join alliances or not. Such decisions must be made by consensus and take into account the wishes of the joining country.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the Alliance calls on Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

The NATO chief added that Russia must abandon its hostility toward Ukraine. He also stressed that the Alliance has increased its presence in the Baltic and Black Sea regions amid the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“NATO’s Response Force consists of 5,000 military personnel who can be deployed within a few days,” he said.

He added that these forces will be deployed if necessary, and the Alliance has plans for optimization and execution of orders in the shortest possible time. Work is currently underway to enhance the readiness of these forces.

Reaction of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said that the US written response to Russia’s “security guarantees” takes into account Ukraine’s positions and proposals.

The ministry stressed that the US response raises no objections from the Ukrainian side.

Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko stressed that Ukraine and the US were in close diplomatic cooperation, including during the preparation of the response to Russia.

“Our position has been taken into account, and the proposals that the American side sent to Russia regarding Ukraine do not raise any objections from us,” Nikolenko said.