Moscow expects a prompt response from Washington to Russia's proposals on security guarantees. This was stated in a comment by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, published on the diplomat's Telegram channel on Tuesday.
"We are expecting a response from Washington, and a response soon, promptly. As they say, the ball has not reached our half of the field, it is still on the side of the United States," she said.
"We need Ms. [White House press secretary] Jen Psaki, who is clearly not aware of what was going on in Geneva, to understand this as well," Zakharova added.
The diplomat pointed out that during the talks in Geneva, "the Russian side made its position very clear and specific." "Let me remind you that the key requirements are as follows: not to expand NATO and not to deploy offensive weapons near Russian territory; to return the military infrastructure in Europe to the configuration of 1997 when the founding act of Russia and NATO was signed at the highest level, that is, in practical terms, the withdrawal of US forces and weapons from the territories of new NATO members to positions of 1997," said the Russian Foreign Ministry official.
According to Zakharova, White House press secretary Jen Psaki's statements about the Geneva talks are damaging to the United States. "As for the numerous, ill-timed statements by the White House press secretary, it is sincerely regrettable that the American leadership is represented by people who are so ignorant of the subject. Such statements, by the way, are detrimental to the US itself, demonstrating an unwillingness to get into context and get in touch with reality," said the diplomat. - "We advise our colleagues not to forget to use critical thinking and to double-check at least the most important stories. Just so you don't have to show your incompetence to the world."
Russian-US consultations on security guarantees ended on January 10 in Geneva. On January 12, Russia will discuss its security concerns in Europe, as well as the Russian projects on security guarantees, at the meeting of the Russia-NATO Council in Brussels; on January 13, at the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna.
White House press secretary Psaki said after the talks that the United States was preparing for Russia to allegedly spread misinformation about commitments related to bilateral consultations in Geneva on security guarantees.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Valery Sharifulin / TASS
Based on materials from TASS