The US has delivered a written letter to Russia, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, addressing Moscow’s concerns amid growing tensions on Ukraine’s border.
As per Xinhua news agency, Blinken said at a press conference that the letter, which was given to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the US ambassador, “laid out a serious diplomatic way ahead should Russia choose it.” The letter was written in reaction to Russia lately expressing “its concerns and proposals in writing” to the US, according to Blinken.
The letter included “a principled and pragmatic evaluation of the concerns that Russia has raised, and our own proposals for areas where we may be able to find common ground,” according to Blinken. It also included “a principled and pragmatic evaluation of the concerns that Russia has raised, and our own proposals for areas where we may be able to find common ground” in addition to concerns from the US and its allies and partners about “Russia’s actions that undermine our security.”
According to Blinken, Washington’s written answer included ideas to improve “reciprocal transparency” between Russia and the West on “force posture in Ukraine” as well as “steps to strengthen confidence about military drills and manoeuvres in Europe.”
That included ideas for missile system placement in Europe and arms control, including “our desire in a follow-on agreement to the New START treaty that covers all nuclear weapons,” he said.
These suggestions, according to Blinken, “have the potential to strengthen the security of the United States and its friends and partners if negotiated in good faith,” “while also addressing Russia’s stated concerns through reciprocal obligations.”
The official reiterated that Washington prefers diplomacy to resolve the crisis, saying that the US is “prepared to move forward where there is the possibility of communication and cooperation, if Russia de-escalates its aggression against Ukraine, stops using inflammatory rhetoric, and approaches discussions about Europe’s future security in a spirit of reciprocity.”
“We believe diplomacy has the best chance of succeeding if we offer room for confidential talks,” Blinken said, adding that the US will not make the letter public and hopes that Russia will do the same.
