West-Russia Talks Hang on Written Responses to Russia's Security Guarantee Proposals

LOCAL NEWS

• Ambassador Antonov says Russia will assess further negotiations with NATO/US on the basis of written responses to Russia's draft agreements on security guarantees. Also note Russia is ready to discuss counter proposals.
  • Says since the collapse of the USSR, five "waves" of NATO expansion have led to the fact that the alliance's units have now come close to its borders. The continued advance of NATO to the east is one of the main threats to Russia's national security, "everything has its limits. We are, in fact, on the brink."
• Kremlin Spox says Russia & NATO on different tracks in negotiations, but pushed back against the idea of Russian troops in the Donbas and on Ukrainian soil. Notes troops near the border were necessary due to the “very tense situation and unfriendly environment.”
  • Also warned that US sanctions risk breaking off bilateral ties entirely and that sanctions never succeed in making Russian change its course
• UK Defense committee Chair says an invasion of Ukraine is “inevitable and imminent” following Friday’s cyberattack, which he believes is meant to destabilise Ukraine prior to an attack. Says this week is critical for Ukraine as Putin has negotiated himself into a corner after NATO refused to bow to his threats, leaving only one option available
• Kremlin Spox says Russia has nothing to do with cyberattacks on Ukrainian governmental websites. Says no proof has been provided, despite Ukraine’s digital transformation ministry saying it had evidence on Sunday.
  • Microsoft has said the damage from this attach could be worse than feared and aims to destroy infrastructure rather than be used for ransom purposes. Microsoft says it has not yet identified the source of the attack