Moscow reportedly demands Finland withdraw from NATO
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Zambian Observer
According to the German daily Bild and the Anadolu Agency, Moscow would demand Finland’s exit from NATO during negotiations in Abu Dhabi, as well as a ban on Alliance bases in the Baltic states. In return, Russia would offer to withdraw its nuclear weapons from Belarus, but Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission, warns against these demands.
Russia reportedly demands that Finland withdraw from NATO, according to reports by the German daily BILD and the Turkish news agency Anadolu. These demands were reportedly presented during negotiations in Abu Dhabi. Moscow would also seek a ban on NATO bases in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which would weaken the Alliance’s military presence along Russia’s western border.
According to this information, Russia would retain control of the Ukrainian territories it currently occupies and gain all of Donbas. Ukraine would be permanently barred from joining NATO, while remaining free to request membership of the European Union. The proposal also provides for the demilitarisation of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, including those of Odesa and Mykolaiv.
In return, Moscow would propose withdrawing its nuclear weapons from Belarus and giving up the deployment of intermediate-range missiles on Belarusian territory. Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission, warned against accepting, or even examining, Russia’s demands on European security architecture, saying this would amount to falling into Moscow’s trap.
