Letters to a troublemaker

The Spanish newspaper El Pais published written responses from the United States and NATO to the Russian ultimatum on "security guarantees." The first document in English is five pages, the second is four (Russian translation: US response , NATO response ). The State Department has confirmed their authenticity.

The US and NATO reaffirm their commitment to the "open door" policy and thus are not ready to guarantee non-expansion of the alliance.

Russia's demand to return the NATO infrastructure to the 1997 lines is not mentioned in the documents.

The United States considers the volume of NATO forces proportional to Russia's. The states indicate that they do not deploy strike groups and nuclear weapons that worry Moscow in the countries of Eastern Europe. Washington links the strengthening of the bloc's troops with the concentration of the Russian army on the border with Ukraine.

In response to the Russian demand to renounce any military activity in Eastern Europe, Transcaucasia and Central Asia, Brussels calls on Moscow to "withdraw troops from the territory of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova."

NATO assures that it remains a defensive bloc and does not pose a threat to Russia. At the same time, the alliance emphasizes that it is ready to "take all necessary measures" to protect any member country.

Washington's response said that the US and NATO could strengthen their "defensive position" in Europe. "U.S. military forces in Europe are a quarter of what they were at the end of the Cold War," the document says. "Further strengthening of Russian power positions or further aggression against Ukraine will force the United States and our allies to strengthen our defensive posture."

The United States and NATO are ready to continue dialogue with Russia on security at various sites, but subject to the de-escalation of the situation around Ukraine - the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Ukrainian border. Washington is urging Moscow to immediately begin negotiations on a new nuclear arms control agreement to replace START III, which expires in February 2026.

The states are ready to discuss restrictions on the deployment of short and medium-range missiles and offer Russia to create a mechanism for inspecting Aegis Ashore missile defense systems in Poland and Romania so that the Russian side can make sure that Tomahawk missiles are not deployed there. In exchange, the US is demanding the ability to inspect two ground-based Russian missile sites of its choice.

The US agrees to discuss issues of military exercises in Europe, including a possible modification of the Vienna Document 2011.

States and NATO propose to discuss mechanisms for preventing military incidents. The United States agrees to update the 2011 Offshore and Airspace Incident Prevention Agreement.

NATO is calling on Moscow to return to the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe, which Russia imposed a moratorium on in 2007.

Brussels offers advice to Moscow on risk reduction in space and calls on Moscow to refrain from testing anti-satellite weapons.