Russia warns of 'military and technical measures', says US security proposals ignore its major concerns
Russia has warned of “military and technical measures” if the US refuses to give it legally-binding security guarantees and ignores its concerns.
This came after a senior State Department official on Thursday confirmed that US Ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan had taken delivery of Russia’s answers to Washington's security proposals.
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, said the US had “failed to provide a constructive answer” to all the key elements of the proposals on security guarantees.
“Our red lines, our key security interests and Russia’s sovereign right to defend them are still being ignored,” the ministry said.
The Kremlin said Russia's security proposals were intended as a complete package and not for the US to pick and choose from, stressing that NATO’s military expansion toward Eastern Europe is a red line, which is still being ignored by the Western alliance.
Russia warned that its response could include missile and troop deployments, electronic warfare and even the use of space-based weapons systems.
It said US ultimatums for Moscow to remove troops from parts of the Russian territory accompanied by sanctions threats are unacceptable and undermine the chances of reaching an agreement.
US official expelled
On Thursday, Russia expelled US deputy chief of mission to Russia Bart Gorman amid rising tensions with the West.
The US government termed the move an “escalatory step" and a State Department spokesperson said Washington was considering a response.
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement later on Thursday, explaining that the expulsion of US deputy chief of mission came in response to media reports presenting the ongoing crisis in relations with Ukraine as "almost a deliberate escalation on the Russian side."
"The American diplomat was indeed ordered to leave Russia, but strictly in response to the unreasonable expulsion of the Minister-Counsellor of our Embassy in Washington, despite his status as a leading official," the ministry said.
It did not name the expelled Russian diplomat or say when he was forced to leave.
Ukraine lies at the heart of the tensions, with the US accusing Russia of planning to invade the country.
Russia rejects the allegation. It has started moving some troops away from the border and sending them back to their bases after completing military exercises.
A US satellite image company confirmed that Russia has been pulling back some equipment from the border.
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