Putin and Lavrov discussed the possibility of negotiating with the West: Russian Ministry of Defense completes exercises

MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin received Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to hear an analysis of US and NATO responses to Russia's proposals for security guarantees.

Sergei Lavrov: "The US response consists of two parts. The first part responds to our three key problems: the non-expansion of NATO, the non-deployment of strike weapons that threaten us, and, in general, the return of the military and military-technical configuration in Europe to the positions of 1997. On these issues the answer is no. Of course, it cannot satisfy us."

According to Lavrov, the response says that "above all is the right of any state to choose unions, join unions, change its unions, and this is not discussed."

Vladimir Putin: "Do you think there is a chance to reach an agreement with our partners on key issues that cause our concern? Or is it just an attempt to drag us into an endless negotiation process that has no logical conclusion?"

Sergei Lavrov: "As Foreign Minister, I must say that there is always a chance. After all, our consistent explanatory work and commitment to clarifying our innocence, while being ready to listen to some serious counterarguments ... It seems to me that our possibilities are far from exhausted, they, of course, should not continue indefinitely, but at this stage I would suggest that they be continued and increased.

The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that a written response to Western colleagues had already been formed on 10 pages.. 
 
Vladimir Putin held working meetings with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. The Russian Foreign Minister said that the written responses sent by the US and NATO to the proposals for security guarantees had been carefully studied. The US response to Russian proposals cannot satisfy Moscow, the Foreign Minister said,

Ministry of Defense completes exercises
but expressed the opinion that "there is always a chance" and negotiations should be continued. Sergei Shoigu, at a meeting with the president, told Putin that the large-scale exercises that are being held on the territory of all military districts are almost completed. The ministerial statements came amid Politico's publication that Russia could attack Ukraine on February 16. According to the publication, US President Joe Biden informed NATO allies about this. 

Russia cannot be satisfied with the response of the US and NATO to security guarantee proposals, said Senator Vladimir Dzhabarov. According to him, in a few days Moscow will announce its position. The day before, a letter from the US State Department arrived in Moscow from Washington. The exact text has not yet been published by either side.

During a press conference, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the American side would not make public its response and expected the same from Russia.