This handout photograph taken and released by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Feb 10, 2022 shows Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaking during a joint press conference with British Foreign Secretary following their talks in Moscow. (HANDOUT / RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY / AFP)
MOSCOW – Moscow and members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are unable to find common ground on European security issues and the alliance's expansion, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a press conference after talks with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Thursday.
"I cannot say that we have any points of convergence here, but I hope that today's talks have allowed our British colleagues to better understand how significant this issue is for Russia," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov explained
"I cannot say that we have any points of convergence here, but I hope that today's talks have allowed our British colleagues to better understand how significant this issue is for Russia," Lavrov explained, adding that Moscow was awaiting a concrete reaction from the West outlining its commitment to the principle of indivisible security.
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Lavrov further noted that a collective response from the European Union, rather than individual responses from all member states would hinder further dialogue.
"Instead of answers from each country, the EU wants to create a collective response, where all the nuances of national positions would be leveled out … in this case, we will not be able to talk," he explained.
Lavrov called the discussion "useful" from the perspective that it once again demonstrated how "indoctrinated" Western beliefs really are with regard to issues of European security, and how the West chooses to demand guarantees from Moscow yet doesn't fulfill its own commitments.
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Truss in turn noted that Russia still "had an opportunity" to pursue the path of diplomacy to improve European security, adding that if this path was not chosen, there would be serious consequences for Russia, Ukraine and Europe.
