Putin Says Western Response to Russia's Core Concerns Is Inadequate

LOCAL NEWS

• Putin says the West has not provided an adequate response to Russia’s three key demands, including non-deployment of strike weapons systems near Russian borders.
  • Also noted that the US is trying to draw Russia into a war over Ukraine, using so-called Russian aggression as a pretext to impose sanctions on Russia.
  • Warns that if Ukraine is granted NATO status it could draw Russia into a war with NATO, but says continued talks could defuse tensions
• US says it is willing to discuss giving Russia a way to verify there aren’t offensive cruise missiles at sensitive NATO missile-defense bases in Romania and Poland, according to people familiar with the matter.
  • Proposal seeks to allay Moscow’s concerns the launchers could be used to target Russia, and would require reciprocal checks at some Russian bases housing ground-launched weapons.
• Russian and Belarusian military have begun joint training in preparation for the Allied Resolve-2022 exercise today and will end on 20 Feb. “The goals of combat coordination are to achieve a high level of readiness of units for joint operations.
  • Motorized rifle units, crews of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery crews, crews of anti-tank guided missile systems conduct control exercises in tactical and fire training, driving combat vehicles and other subjects of training”

Data/Events:

• Putin to hold talk with UK’s Johnson via phone
• Novak Takes part in OPEC+ meeting
• 1600GMT: Dec Industrial production you exp at 4.5% vs 7.0% prior