From January 10, 2022, Russia will hold a series of dialogues with the United States, NATO and OSCE on a series of security issues such as Ukraine. Cove said on January 9, 2022 that the recent signals from the United States and NATO were "disappointing" and that Russia would not make concessions in the face of pressure and threats.

The one-day new round of strategic stability dialogue between the United States and Russia will be held in Geneva, Switzerland on January 10, 2022. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov and US Deputy Secretary of State Sherman led the delegations of the two countries respectively.

Ryabkov said at a press conference after the end of the dialogue that the negotiation process was difficult, time-consuming, professional, in-depth and specific. However, the main issues of the negotiation are still unresolved, and the two sides have not discussed the issue of prohibiting NATO's eastward expansion. get along with.

Ryabkov on the left, Sherman on the right

Ryabkov said that what Russia needs is a rational and legally meaningful guarantee that Ukraine and Georgia will never become NATO members. This is a key national security issue for Russia, and Russia cannot tolerate it. Procrastination on resolving this issue. He said that Russia called on the United States to show the greatest sense of responsibility in the current negotiation stage, and called on NATO not to lead the dialogue to a dead end, but to move towards Russia's proposal.

Sherman told the media through a conference call in Geneva on January 10, 2022, that the U.S. side "categorically rejected" a series of security proposals put forward by Russia during the dialogue, including requiring NATO not to admit Ukraine as a member, to terminate its cooperation with Russia. Uzbekistan's security cooperation and other relevant proposals are contrary to NATO's "open door" policy. The US believes that the decision-making process on European security issues must involve Ukraine and NATO.

During the dialogue on January 10, 2022, Ryabkov emphasized that Russia has no intention of "attacking" Ukraine, nor is it possible to do so.

Sherman said the U.S. welcomes a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian issue, but only if Russia takes concrete steps to reduce tensions on the Russian-Ukrainian border can the Ukrainian issue be resolved in substance. If Russia "further invades" Ukraine, it will pay a heavy price and face serious consequences.

Ryabkov believes that the dialogue between Russia and the United States is not hopeless, and the basis for Russia to reach an agreement on security issues with the United States and NATO exists.

Sherman said that the U.S. side is committed to having a "meaningful reciprocal dialogue" with the Russian side and will discuss the bilateral issues involved in the dialogue with the Russian side as soon as possible.

On January 12, 2022, after the Russia-US security dialogue, Russia and NATO will hold a dialogue in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. On January 13, 2022, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe will hold talks in Vienna, the capital of Austria.

Analysts pointed out that Russia and the United States and other Western countries have long lacked strategic mutual trust, and multiple factors have made it difficult to fundamentally improve the contradiction between Russia and the West. Although both Russia and the United States have shown their willingness to talk, the political game between Russia and the United States and other Western countries over the Ukraine issue will continue.

Thomas Greminger, director of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy Studies and former Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said the meeting and exchange between the United States and Russia sent a positive signal, but the differences between the two sides “have no quick solutions. ” The concrete results will not be achieved overnight. "The new round of dialogue will be an opportunity for both sides to articulate common concerns and exchange common expectations. At the same time, it is also very important for all European countries, especially those directly concerned, to participate in the dialogue as soon as possible."

Keith Krause, a professor at the Geneva Institute for International and Development Studies, said the United States did try to recalibrate its relationship with Russia, but it would be a long and slow process. The United States and Russia currently have huge differences, but at the same time, the common interests of the two sides are also very clear. Although the prospect of some kind of agreement between the two sides is not clear, the momentum of the two sides to manage risks through dialogue is expected to maintain.Editor/Ma Xue