Russian Foreign Minister: "US Agreed to Respond to Russia's Security Guarantee Document... Never Threatened Ukraine"

On the 21st (local time), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that the United States will provide a written response next week regarding Russia's security guarantee demands.

Minister Lavrov made this statement at a press conference following security talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held in Geneva, Switzerland, on the same day.

Earlier, on the 15th of last month, Russia had delivered two draft documents to the United States: a security guarantee treaty between Russia and the U.S., and an agreement on security measures between Russia and NATO member countries.

The documents reportedly included provisions for NATO to stop its eastward expansion by accepting additional former Soviet states such as Ukraine as members, and to guarantee that no offensive weapons such as medium- and short-range missiles would be deployed in countries near Russia.

Russia has demanded that the United States first provide a definite written response regarding its security guarantee proposals.

Minister Lavrov also stated that he discussed the heightened crisis over allegations of Russia preparing to invade Ukraine with Secretary Blinken. He said the U.S. side reiterated calls for easing tensions along the Russia-Ukraine border, but Russia has never threatened the Ukrainian people and repeatedly emphasized that it has no plans to invade Ukraine.