Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov still sees an opportunity for Russia and the West to agree on mutual security.
Lavrov seems to want to temper the rising tensions about Ukraine with the ruling. “As the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I must say that there is always a chance to reach an agreement.”
He urged President Vladimir Putin on Monday to step up negotiations over guarantees for Russia’s security, according to Russian media. Negotiations with the US and NATO are not exhausted yet. “Of course, they cannot go on indefinitely, but at the moment, it is possible to continue and build on them,” said Lavrov.
Russia especially considers the US meddling in Ukraine and any plans to make the Eastern European country a member of NATO a threat to national security. As a result, it has deployed many military personnel along the Ukrainian border to pressure the US and NATO neighbouring countries.
Washington and London report an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine almost daily. However, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu told Putin on Monday that a number of military exercises have already ended, and some are in their final stages.
Russian troops are conducting exercises on the Ukrainian border together with the army of Belarus.