The Kremlin says there is little reason for optimism after the US response to Russia's security guarantee proposals.
Responding to journalists' questions on Thursday, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov referred to statements by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, where "they were absolutely unequivocal about their rejection of the main concerns that were outlined by Russian Federation." "Based on this, of course, there is not much reason to be optimistic," the Kremlin spokesman said.
At the same time, he refrained "from any conceptual assessments" regarding the US response to Russia's proposals.
Asked whether there is a substance for compromise between the parties in the US response provided, Peskov also declined to give any assessments so far.
"From what our colleagues [in the United States and NATO] announced yesterday, it is very clear that according to the main categories that were outlined in those draft documents which we handed over to our counterparts, one cannot say that our considerations have been taken into account or any willingness to take our concerns into account has been demonstrated," Peskov said.
He recalled that the US and NATO asked the Russian side not to publish response papers. "But our colleagues have outlined in detail the content of these papers, which now, in principle, may and, indeed, should not be [published]," the Kremlin spokesman noted.
Kremlin won't be in a hurry
The spokesman added that the Kremlin will not rush to comment on the US and NATO responses, it takes time to analyze them.
"All these papers are with the president [of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin]. Of course, it will take some time to analyze them. Let's not rush to any conclusions," the Kremlin spokesman said.
He confirmed that Putin had already read the West's written responses to Russia's proposals on security guarantees. "Once again, I repeat, we will not rush to assessments. It takes time to analyze, and, in the end, to have a corresponding position formulated by our president. We'll see how it goes," the Russian leader's spokesman pointed out.
At the same time, Russia will not delay in reacting to the West's answers on security guarantees. "I can't give you any exact date. It is clear that no one will particularly delay the reaction, but it would probably be silly to expect it the next day, too," the Kremlin spokesman said.
Peskov recalled that it took the US and Europe about a month to study Russian documents. "So let's not expect our reaction right away," the Russian leader's spokesman urged.
Peskov was also asked if Putin planned to hold any meetings on the subject. He explained in response that the president consults with members of the Security Council, his aides, and other representatives of the country's leadership as needed.
However, no decision has been made yet about how Moscow will respond to the West's answers on security guarantees, the Kremlin spokesman noted. As for how public Russia's response could be, he explained, "A separate decision will be made about that."
Questions on the INF
Discussion of the topic of restrictions on the placement of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles (INF) is not viable in isolation from the overall security architecture, Peskov added.
"Certainly, it is possible to say something about the INF separately, but in itself the discussion of the subject of the INF in isolation from the general problems of the general security architecture and strategic security - well, such contacts are hardly viable," he said.
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Based on materials from TASS