Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded from Biden a guarantee that the NATO bloc would not expand to the east.
The Kremlin press service reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin, during talks with US President Joe Biden, said that Russia is seriously interested in obtaining reliable guarantees that would rule out NATO expansion eastward.
According to information received from the Kremlin, during the talks, Biden emphasized the allegedly “threatening” nature of the movement of Russian troops near the Ukrainian borders.
“Vladimir Putin, in response, stressed that the responsibility should not be shifted onto the shoulders of Russia, since it is NATO that is making dangerous attempts to conquer Ukrainian territory and is building up its military potential at our borders,” the message says.
The Kremlin’s press service also said:
“Therefore, Russia is seriously interested in obtaining reliable, legally fixed guarantees that would rule out NATO expansion eastward and the deployment of offensive strike weapons systems in states adjacent to Russia.”