“In a dialogue with the United States and its allies, we will insist on working out specific agreements that would exclude any further NATO moves eastward and the deployment of weapons systems that threaten us in close vicinity to Russian territory,” Putin said.
He charged that “the threats are mounting on our western border,” with NATO placing its military infrastructure closer to Russia and offered the West to engage in substantive talks on the issue, adding that Moscow would need not just verbal assurances, but “legal guarantees.”
“We aren't demanding any special conditions for ourselves and realize that any agreements must take interests of Russia and all Euro-Atlantic countries into account,” Putin said. “A calm and stable situation must be ensured for all and is needed for all without exclusion.”
Putin's statement came a day after he sternly warned NATO against deploying its troops and weapons to Ukraine, saying it represented a red line for Russia and would trigger a strong response.
Medieval thinking 100%.
Again, Putin telling the people of other countries what they can and cannot do in the name of his safety. Again, Putin telling all countries that they cannot join NATO because he says so. This is Putin considering himself ruler of the old USSR and the one who can tell Europe what can and cannot do. It is no longer the case and, after this war, he will be lucky if other "territories" do not start revolting in view of the inefficacy of its army.
US pretty much said that Russia is not allowed to have national security interests
On the contrary, Russia has security interests, Ukraine has security interests (even more now), Finland has security interests, Sweden, Lithuania, Letonia,... all have security interests... the question is why Putin's interest are better than anyone else's. Is it because he's got a better army / more power? Now that argument seems to have a few leaks.
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And we're back to hypocrisy and double standards. Due to their proximity, US can have national security interests in Cuba, totally normal for NATO and Australia to have national interests in Solomon Islands etc... But why Russia should have national interest that spans to the country directly on it's border? Yeah but all countries are not equal and the one that passes some level of democracy status are allowed to do it, while others are not. Great policy, guaranteed to result in wars, so here we are.
Coming up next, everyone acts super surprised when China starts "special operations" in Taiwan after US decides to add it to it's "defense" pact.