Russia reportedly seeks return of NATO forces to 1997 levels
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Nouvelle Tribune
Russia reportedly wants NATO forces in Europe returned to their 1997 levels, which would entail withdrawing troops from Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland. The demand, which would also seek to curb the Alliance’s expansion and limit Ukraine’s sovereignty, was reported by The Telegraph, citing diplomatic sources.
Russia is reportedly demanding that NATO forces deployed in Europe return to their 1997 levels, which would mean withdrawing troops from Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland. Moscow is said to have made the demand during peace negotiations on Ukraine, according to diplomatic sources quoted by The Telegraph on 25 October.
The Kremlin could accept compromises on other issues if this demand and a limit on NATO’s eastward expansion were met, The Telegraph reports. Moscow is also seeking to restrict Ukraine’s sovereignty and opposes its possible accession to the Atlantic Alliance, which Vladimir Putin describes as a root cause of the war.
The demand comes as the Russian president has agreed to resume trilateral talks on Ukraine. It follows Moscow’s discussions on European security, after Vladimir Putin said on 22 October that he favoured a lasting peace agreement over a short truce. The Kremlin has not confirmed these demands.
