Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Wednesday that Russia will present to the United States its security proposals within a week.
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During a press conference he held following his talks today with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Sochi, Putin revealed some aspects of his meeting via video link with his US counterpart Joe Biden on Tuesday.
The Russian president confirmed that he discussed with Biden security issues, among other topics covered by the talks, which Putin described as constructive, adding that they open the way for continuing dialogue between Moscow and Washington.
Putin said that he agreed with Biden to continue discussing security issues, through exchanging ideas between the two sides in this regard.
He added: “Russia will formulate its proposals within a few days, within a week, and then we will put them before the American side.”
Putin confirmed that he and Biden discussed the conflict in southeastern Ukraine, “and the expansion of NATO to the east, including through Ukraine, which is an issue of great sensitivity for Russia.”
The Russian president added that the talk is about “one of the central issues related to ensuring Russia’s security in the foreseeable future and even on the strategic horizon.”
He added that Moscow constantly assures its Western partners that it considers this expansion unacceptable. “Of course, every country has the right to choose the most appropriate method to ensure its security, but this must be done in a way that does not harm the interests of other countries and undermine their security, and here I mean Russia.”
cyber security
The Russian president stated that he also discussed with Biden in detail issues related to cyber security, noting that the two countries had made “tangible progress” in this field since the two presidents met in Geneva.
He added that Moscow and Washington had succeeded in establishing a constructive dialogue in this regard, which is now bringing “positive results.”
Putin: NATO’s approach is hostile to us
During the press conference, Putin answered questions about relations between Russia and NATO, and pointed out that the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Brussels, which led to the closure of the NATO mission in Moscow, was evidence of the alliance’s “unfriendly, to say the least” approach towards Russia, where NATO declared Russia an adversary. “.
Putin expressed his regret over this situation, stressing that Russia does not want to enter into a confrontation with any party.
When asked if Russia was planning an attack on Ukraine, Putin described the question as “provocative.”
He said: “Russia is engaged in a peaceful foreign policy, but it has the right to guarantee its security, and that is, as I said, in the foreseeable future and on the strategic horizon. This issue we discuss with all our partners, including the President of the United States, Mr. Biden, with whom I spoke yesterday.”
Source: Russian agencies
