Moscow says U.S. response ignores its main concerns

One day after the U.S. hand-delivered a response to Russia regarding its security concerns, Moscow on Thursday said it was clear the U.S. was not willing to address the most critical among them.

As delicate negotiations continue, Russia remains steadfast in its demand that post-Cold War security arrangements in Europe be redrawn.

Specifically, Russia is insisting that NATO halt any further enlargement, bar Ukraine from ever joining the alliance, and pull back forces and weaponry from eastern European countries that entered NATO after the Cold War.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov doubled down on Moscow’s position Thursday: “As for the main question, there is no positive reaction to it in the document. The main question is our clear message that we consider further NATO expansion to the East, and weapons deployment - which can threaten the Russian Federation - unacceptable."

But a day earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken – while not disclosing the specifics of the U.S. response – made it clear that blocking the expansion of NATO was a non-starter.

“NATO’s door is open, remains open, and that is our commitment.”

Meanwhile, Russia has continued military drills near its border with Ukraine, where it has massed some 100,000 troops, provoking Western fears of an invasion.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday said Moscow needed time to review the U.S. document, as well as one submitted by NATO, and would not rush to conclusions… but that the responses to Russia’s key demands did not leave much room for optimism.

The U.S on Thursday called on China to use its influence with Russia to urge a diplomatic solution to the crisis, but policy experts doubted Beijing would back Washington in the standoff.