Ive here. Helmer offers a useful service, directly citing Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on how the United States needs to do what it has so far clearly failed to do in negotiations over the worsening crisis in Ukraine; Formal positions provide written responses. Given the U.S.’s history of “incapacity to make a deal,” especially the renegade rhetorical commitment to keep NATO out of former Warsaw Pact states, having the U.S. make a simple and clear statement on whatever it proposes to do seems like a reasonable basic step.

go through John HelmerHe is the longest-serving foreign correspondent in Russia and the only Western correspondent to directly command his own bureau, independent of a single country or commercial relationship. Helmer has also served as a professor of political science and an advisor to heads of government in Greece, the United States, and Asia. He was the first and only member of the U.S. presidential administration (Jimmy Carter) to gain a foothold in Russia.Originally Posted in dance with bears

Since the Russian government already knows what the U.S. government will write on paper – its intelligence services know, the solar wind hackers knowledge —What did Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman read during a meeting in Geneva on Monday with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov?

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced late Thursday that the United States should now put on paper proposals to reduce the risk of war. Otherwise, Lavrov also told US Secretary of State Blinken that the US would go to war with Russia. Lavrov told Blinken that “the highest degree of arrogance” and “foaming at the mouth” were enough.that “serious country’s secretary of state” [????????? ???????????] Announcing such a thing” is – Lavrov did not swear.

“We hope that the commitments now made in Geneva and Brussels will be fulfilled. They are concerned that the US and NATO will put their proposals ‘on paper’. We have explained to them clearly and repeatedly that we need to go through our documents point by point Response. If a position is not suitable, have them explain why and put it “on paper”. If it is suitable to amend, it should also be in writing. If they want to exclude or add something – a similar request. A month ago, We put our thoughts in writing. Lots of time in Washington and Brussels. They both promised to put their responses on ‘paper’.”

Lavrov waved this American paper to remind British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain on his return from a meeting with German Chancellor Adolf Hitler on September 30, 1938, that read “May our two peoples never again.” fighting each other”. It turned out to be wrong – Hitler didn’t mean it. Chamberlain isn’t sure, but wants his voters to believe, plus time to prepare.

Lavrov declared that Russia knew today that the intention of the United States was to start a war. And Russia is ready and already at war on all fronts.

Lavrov now declares that Sherman’s telling Ryabkov on Monday that “the United States and Russia agree that nuclear war will never be won and will never be fought” is equally wrong, unless Sherman’s paper follows. On that paper, there must be “legal assurances that NATO will not expand eastward, and that shocks will not be deployed” [nuclear] Weapons posing a threat to Russian security on the territory of our neighbours, in principle, the configuration of the European security architecture returns to 1997, when the Russia-NATO establishment bill was signed. On this basis, the Russia-NATO Council was subsequently established. Here are three key requirements. The remaining proposals depend on the dialogue among the three initiatives. “

Lavrov’s statement also dismissed attempts by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who is ending his term in office, to interfere in the Russia-U.S. talks. And Josep Borrell, EU foreign minister from Spain. Lavrov said Stoltenberg was “shaking the air.” Borrell was “emotional and impolite”.

Lavrov’s spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said at Thursday’s briefing: “There seem to be two J. Borrells: one who speaks and the second who writes. Or a J. Borrell, He can speak, but other people will write for him. Neither in style, in language, in expressions used, these texts do not belong to one person. Obviously.”

The only interlocutor Lavrov has identified as serious in Europe is France. Germany was not mentioned; Lavrov commented that the British were not credible. The U.S. Senate is suffering from “nervous breakdown…inexplicable psychological problems.”

Read the full interview with Russian Lavrov here. An official English translation of the ministry will be released later today.

Left to right: Sergei Lavrov and interviewers for Channel 1,  Dmitri Simes (videolink) and Vyacheslav Nikonov. 

Zakharova’s brief was here.

At a news conference after the Geneva talks on Monday, Sherman laid out eight points of apparent convergence between the two countries.she also claim She knows what Ryabkov’s paper says: “Minister Ryabkov and I know each other very well. We work together on the Syrian chemical weapons deal. We have a joint comprehensive plan of action. [Iran] Together.We’re apparently working on SSDs now [Strategic Stability Dialogue] I serve as Deputy Secretary of State. We know each other very, very well. So we can be as honest as possible because we know we are here for our national interests and are very loyal to those national interests. “

Lavrov used his own echo to disprove Sherman’s claims. “We know the U.S. negotiators very well. We have met with them many times on various occasions, including negotiating the Iran nuclear program and the START-3 treaty. They had a general idea of ??what the conversations were about. Following direct instructions from Russian President Vladimir Putin It is of vital importance to us. We have an obligation to deal with these issues involving the entire European security architecture in the strictest possible way, he said. Not only has Russia unilaterally demanded not to strike it, not to do anything that displeases us, but also Principles designed to ensure everyone’s safety, no one’s interests are violated, and no one’s safety is compromised.”

Lavrov explicitly refuted Sherman’s attempts to dominate Russia’s national interests on Russian soil, calling for the withdrawal of troops operating in the west and south to their barracks. “I see no need to explain the absolute unacceptability of such requests. We will not discuss them.”

Also not mentioned is the fact that the Russian army is in December 25-26. So far, the US has neither acknowledged nor responded.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

“We will continue in standby mode, but not for too long,” Lavrov warned that the concession was temporary. “We’re used to starting from the harsh reality,” he added. “This includes the fact that we are promised a written response. We will wait for it, and then we will determine the next step. As for optimism, we have this proverb: ‘Who is a pessimist? A pessimist is a well-informed optimist.

Zakharova summed up her briefing: “We are now waiting for details, not snooping on their emotions and feelings. We are waiting for their reply.”

Lavrov and Zakharova stressed that the details on the U.S. document already appear to be non-reciprocal, and therefore non-starters. Lavrov noted that the United States and NATO refused to withdraw “permanently deploy large numbers of combat forces on the territories of new members”; the United States and allies refused to check each other’s nuclear warhead facilities in Romania and Poland. As for the dual-energy Aegis missiles, Lavrov said their deployment on the ground or at sea is not an ad hoc arrangement. “The initiative not to deploy shock weapons near Russia’s borders — it’s a useful thing, but it’s unlikely to be significant beyond the main requirement that NATO not expand eastward.”

Lavrov made no mention of U.S. Navy nuclear operations in the Baltic and Black Seas. If confidence-building measures are to be taken on these fronts, the Russian side will be watching the Bosphorus in the coming days to see if the number of U.S. Navy and other NATO ships heading north into the Black Sea has declined compared to last year.Turkish Navy website makes it possible for everyone observe.

Source: Foreign Warships On Bosphorus in 2022

Source: https://turkishnavy.net//

Zakharova detailed the specifics that the U.S. is bolstering Ukrainian troops and strengthening its offensive capabilities on the Donbas front. “This year they plan to hold several joint military exercises, the scale of which will be several times larger than before. Contrary to the stated desire of the US authorities to contribute to the peaceful resolution of the conflict, Washington said in December 2021, according to reports including the media. Approved an additional $200 million to Kiev for the supply of ammunition, electronic warfare equipment, lethal weapons to Ukraine. In addition, a group of Republicans submitted a bill to the lower house of Congress “On Guaranteeing Ukraine’s Independence by Strengthening Its Defense Capabilities” The bill provides for an additional $450 million to be allocated to Kiev, of which $100 million should be used for the purchase of air defense equipment/missile defense and warships. There are also plans to expand the range of weapons to be supplied…”

Sherman said she told Ryabkov “We ??believe that real progress can only happen in an atmosphere of de-escalation, not escalation. If Russia stays at the negotiating table and takes concrete steps to de-escalate tensions, we believe we can achieve progress.”

Moscow’s response on Thursday was that it was as empty and false as the piece of paper Hitler gave Chamberlain. Lavrov and Zakharova said they were aware of U.S. intentions and they did not pretend to be Chamberlain.

They also demanded that Americans be more punctual than Germans. Lavrov set a one-week deadline for papers to be delivered; he did not say whether it was a calendar or a work week.