SIMFEROPOL, November 12. /TASS/. Kiev’s partners who provide aid of various kind to Ukraine should realize that conflict does not benefit anyone and return to developing mutual security guarantees that Russia insisted on, Sergey Tsekov, a member of Russia’s Federation Council, told TASS on Saturday.
"I think that those countries who are very actively supporting Ukraine in the end should realize that an armed conflict definitely does not benefit anyone - neither Ukraine, nor Russia, nor Europe. That said, they should still think about what triggered the special military operation, recall those conversations held before the special military operation, in particular, on developing mutual security guarantees. They rejected it," the senator said.
On December 17, 2021, the Russian Foreign Ministry published the draft agreements between Russia and the US on security guarantees and the measures of ensuring the security of Russia and NATO member states. They included, among others, legal guarantees that NATO won’t expand eastward and won’t admit Ukraine into its ranks, as well as the introduction of restrictions on the deployment of serious offensive weapons, including nuclear ones. The documents also contained provisions on the restrictions of deploying medium-and short-range missiles. Several rounds of consultations in various formats took place but no agreements were announced.
In late January, the US and NATO handed over written responses to Russia on Moscow’s security guarantees that it was demanding from Washington and Brussels. The West did not make concessions to Russia considered to be critical, but did indicate directions for further negotiations. Following the onset of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, dialogue on these issues did not resume.