Russia has not invaded and doesnot plan to invade the territory of Ukraine, and considers constant statements about the upcoming invasion an instrument of pressuring.
This is stated in Moscow's written response to the Washington’s security proposals published on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation on Thursday, February 17.
The United States received Russia's response to Washington's security proposals on Thursday when it was delivered to U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan in Moscow
"There is no "Russia’s invasion" of Ukraine, as the U.S. and its allies have been officially declaring since last autumn, therefore claims of "Russia's responsibility for escalation" cannot be regarded otherwise than an attempt to exert pressure and devalue Russia's proposals for security garantees," the document says.
The department also considere the requirements for Russia to withdraw troops from the Ukrainian borderunacceptable, because Russian troops are located on its own territory.
"The growing military activity of the United States and NATO directly at the Russian borders is alarming, while our "red lines" and fundamental security interests, as well as Russia's sovereign right to protect them, are still ignored," the Russian Foreign Ministry wrote.
In addition, Russia is dissatisfied with the alleged disregard of ‘packaged’ Russian proposals. Moscow claims that "convenient" topics are deliberately chosen on order to "twist" the situation creating advantages for the United States and its allies.
"This approach, as well as the accompanying rhetoric of American officials, reinforces the justified doubts that Washington is really committed to changing the situation in the field of Eurosecurity," Russian diplomats expressed their point.
According to Putin, Russia is hoping that the West will stop hysteria over a purportedly planned attack on Ukraine and favors a diplomatic solution of the situation around Ukraine.
"We discussed the situation developing with regard to Russia’s demands to the West whose key points stipulate that NATO should abandon its designs on eastward expansion, assume the commitment of not deploying strike weapons near the Russian borders and return to the alliance’s military potential and infrastructure in Europe as of 1997 when the Russia-NATO Founding Act was signed. As I have already spoken about, the United States and other members of the alliance are yet unwilling, unfortunately, to perceive these three core elements of our initiative adequately," the Russian president said.
At the same time, the Western counterparts formulated a whole number of ideas on European security, intermediate- and shorter-range missiles and military transparency as the issues that Russia also favors discussing, Putin pointed out.
"And we are ready to move along the negotiating track on condition that all the issues will be discussed comprehensively, without being separated from the key Russian proposals whose implementation is a top priority for us," the Russian leader stressed.