Russia-US talks: Washington takes Moscow proposals "very seriously"
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After seven hours of discussion, the expanded Russian-US talks held in Geneva were concluded.
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US Deputy Secretary of State said she offered to make reciprocal moves with Russia on missiles and exercises to de-escalate tensions.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported the conclusion of the expanded Russian-US talks, held in the Swiss city of Geneva, regarding Russia's security guarantees demanded from the US and NATO, after seven hours of discussions.
The head of the Russian delegation, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, will hold a press conference in Geneva, as the US side will then hold a press conference in Washington, our correspondent mentioned.
US Deputy Secretary of State
Earlier, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said she offered to make reciprocal moves with Russia on missiles and exercises to de-escalate tensions.
Sherman told AFP that the US was ready to meet again, but that Russia had not offered assurances that it will pull back, what he called, troops amassed near Ukraine.
Washington taking proposals "very seriously"
On the other hand, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed to AFP that Washington was taking Russia's proposals for security guarantees "very seriously", confirming that Moscow "explained to our colleagues that we have no plans, no intentions to 'attack' Ukraine."
Ryabkov called on the US to be "responsible" in dealing with Russia, warning that the risks of a growing confrontation "cannot be underestimated."
Russia denies plans to attack Ukraine
Al Mayadeen's Geneva correspondent reported that talks between Moscow and Washington have begun after the Russian team, led by Sergei Ryabkov, arrived at the US mission's headquarters to begin bilateral talks with the US team led by Wendy Sherman.
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— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) January 10, 2022
Sherman had met Ryabkov in Geneva on Sunday, where they discussed the bilateral issues both sides will talk over during the Strategic Stability dialogue on Monday.
Western countries and Kiev accuse Russia of massing about 100,000 troops at the borders of Ukraine in preparation for a possible "invasion."
Russia responds
Moreover, President Vladimir Putin had said last month that Moscow pursues a peaceful foreign policy; however, it has the right to defend its security.
Russia has been demanding a written commitment that Ukraine would never be able to join NATO and that the alliance would not place any military equipment in certain countries in the region surrounding Russia.
The Kremlin sees that it is best for Russian security that the alliance does not expand eastward and that Russia does not have any Western military activity in its vicinity.
Russia has repeatedly denied the Western allegations of intending to invade its western neighbor, and Moscow's Foreign Intelligence Service accused the US State Department of spreading false information about Russia's alleged troop buildup.
It is noteworthy that a meeting between NATO and Russia is scheduled to take place next Wednesday in Brussels in Belgium, followed by a meeting with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe on Thursday in Vienna in Austria.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
