US, NATO ignored Moscow’s main concerns in Ukrain standoff, Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the United States and NATO of ignoring Russia’s central security demand of permanently blocking Ukraine from the alliance. Speaking to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron by phone on Friday, Putin said the written responses to  Moscow’s proposals for a redrawing of post-Cold War security arrangements had not taken into account “fundamental concerns including preventing NATO’s expansion and refusing to deploy strike weapons systems near Russia’s borders”, according to a Kremlin readout of the call. He added Russia would “carefully study” the responses “after which it will decide on further actions”.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Russian radio in an interview that Russia don't want war. Russia has massed tens of thousands of troops near the Ukrainian border as it presses demands for a redrawing of post-Cold War security arrangements in Europe. The United States and its allies have warned President Vladimir Putin that Russia will face swift and tough economic sanctions if he attacks Ukraine.Lavrov said the West was ignoring Russia's interests but there was at least something in written responses submitted by the United States and NATO on Wednesday to Russia's proposals.While the responses have not been made public, both have stated they are willing to engage with Moscow on arms control and confidence-building measures. They have ruled out acceding to other demands, including that Ukraine must never be allowed to join NATO. Lavrov said he expected to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken again in the next couple of weeks. He said, without giving details, that the US counter-proposals were better than NATO's. Russia was studying them and Putin would decide how to respond.