Russia cannot help but be concerned about the North Atlantic Alliance's (NATO) incessant military build-up and infrastructure near its borders, but Moscow expects the alliance to consider its initiatives to reduce tensions, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a video address to the participants and guests of the 9th Moscow Conference on International Security published on Wednesday on the Kremlin website.
"We cannot but be concerned over the continuous build-up of NATO’ military potentials and infrastructure in the vicinity of Russian borders, as well as over the fact that the Alliance is refusing to consider in a constructive manner our proposals on de-escalating the tension and reducing the risk of unpredictable incidents," the Russian leader said.
He stressed that the Russian side hopes that common sense and the desire to promote constructive relations "will eventually prevail".
The president noted that Russia's efforts are aimed at reducing the risks, ensuring predictability, and solving differences via dialogue and concrete agreements, including in the field of arms control.
The "security equation" and the lessons of war
Putin recalled that Moscow had previously suggested developing a new “security equation.” In this regard, the president stressed that the new "security equation" should take into account all factors influencing strategic stability in their interconnection.
The Russian leader expressed his conviction that "political will and readiness to compromise can produce a positive effect". According to the president, the extension of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty until 2026 is clear evidence of this.
Putin reminded that on June 22 Russia marked the mournful date - the 80th anniversary of the attack of Nazi Germany on the USSR. The president underlined that for Russia, the lessons of the Great Patriotic War have a special price. Putin assured that the authorities would do everything to guarantee peace and security for the people of Russia, improve our Armed Forces and, of course, use the opportunities offered by diplomacy and "conduct a meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders".
He emphasized that Moscow did not dictate its will to other countries but was ready to participate in solving global and regional challenges and to expand creative cooperation with all countries on equal terms using political and diplomatic methods.
"We develop our defense potential based on the principle of reasonable sufficiency and we are not seeking a determining, unilateral military advantage or a balance-of-forces edge in our favor, all the more so in such a sensitive sphere as strategic stability. But we will never allow anyone to pull the balance over to themselves," the Russian president concluded.
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Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS