EU representative denies Russia's request that NATO not expand eastward

In an interview with the German newspaper Welt, Mr. Borrell said that Russia's desire not to expand NATO eastward, close to the Russian border, is "completely unacceptable." The EU representative talked about two drafts published by Moscow earlier this month, including the draft 8-point security agreement that includes Russia's demands that the US and NATO accept. Accordingly, Moscow asked NATO not to expand eastward, and at the same time withdraw NATO troops and missiles from Eastern European countries close to the Russian border.

EU headquarters.

According to Mr. Borrell, this is the first time the Russian side has made a request to NATO in writing, which he said “only the winner” has the right to do. He called Moscow’s proposals “a purely Russian agenda” with “completely unacceptable terms,” especially the clause that Ukraine cannot join NATO. Mr. Borrell stressed that the two sides cannot compromise to go against the basic principle, which is the right of a country to self-determination to join the alliance.

Borrell also said that the EU should be given a place at the negotiating table on European security, instead of Russia only sending the agreement to the US and NATO, because the agreements proposed by Russia are focused on European security. "If Russia wants to talk about the security architecture in Europe and about security guarantees starting from January 2022, this is not just a matter for the US and Russia. We do not want to be spectators who are not involved in the decisions of both sides," Borrell stressed.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said Kiev should also be invited to the talks, writing on Twitter: “Decisions on Ukraine’s security and European security in general can only be made with Ukraine and the EU at the negotiating table.”

Lan Ha