NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg voiced the Alliance's position in response to the demand for "security guarantees" from Russia.
Stoltenberg's speech was broadcasted live on Reuters YouTube channel.
NATO’s written proposals outlined the three main areas where there is room for progress.
First, NATO-Russia relations.
Stoltenberg called on Russia to re-establish their relations.
“Russia has cut diplomatic ties with NATO, which makes our dialogue more difficult. So we should re-establish our respective offices in Moscow and in Brussels. We should also make full use of our existing military-to-military channels of communications, to promote transparency and reduce risks, and look also into setting up a civilian hotline for emergency use,” he said.
Secondly, European security, including the situation in and around Ukraine.
Stoltenberg called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Georgia, Moldova, where they are deployed without these countries’ consent. In addition, he mentioned that all parties should engage constructively in efforts to settle conflicts, including in the Normandy format.
“We are prepared to listen to Russia’s concerns, and engage in a real conversation on how to uphold and strengthen the fundamental principles of European security that we have all signed up to, starting with the Helsinki Final Act. This includes the right of each nation to choose its own security arrangements. Russia should refrain from coercive force posturing, aggressive rhetoric, and malign activities directed against Allies and other nations,” Stoltenberg has stated.
Third, risk reduction, transparency, and arms control.
Stoltenberg proposed to resume mutual briefings on exercises and nuclear policies in the NATO-Russia Council, modernization of the Vienna Document on military transparency, and serious conversation on arms control.
At the same time, while hoping for, and working for, a good solution, de-escalation, NATO is also prepared for the worst. And therefore, in parallel with the efforts on the dialogue track, NATO is also increasing the readiness of its forces. In addition, NATO Allies have also increased their presence including in the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea region, with more ships and more planes, partly to conduct surveillance, to monitor, to have the best possible picture of the developments in and around Ukraine, but also to provide reassurance to Allies.
“We will take all necessary measures to defend and protect all Allies,” Jens Stoltenberg concluded.