https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/r...ions-k82hw50rz
Russia wants ‘urgent’ answer to demands over Nato withdrawal amid Ukraine tensions
The Kremlin has threatened an escalation of tensions with western countries if Nato does not meet its demand to withdraw forces from member states in eastern and central Europe, with Russian state media warning viewers that the two powers could go to war.
“Russia has placed the US in a zugzwang,” a presenter on the Rossiya 1 channel said, referring to the chess term that means whatever move a player makes, it will be to their disadvantage.
“The United States must sign off on its hegemony; its hegemony is over. Either they step back voluntarily or we’ll make them do it by force. And Russia makes no guarantees about the survival of Ukraine, especially as a sovereign state. Maybe we really are on the eve of war with Nato.”
Russia issued proposals on “security guarantees” for Moscow last week that also called on Nato to halt its eastward expansion into eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, including Ukraine.
The White House said it would discuss the Russian proposals with its European allies but also emphasised that Moscow could not be allowed to interfere in the foreign policy decisions of sovereign states. The Kremlin said today that it had yet to receive a “substantive” reply from Nato.
Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, said that any delay in negotiations would “fuel” tensions that have spiralled in recent months over a Russian military build-up near Ukraine’s eastern borders…..
“We need this [answer] urgently,” Ryabkov, 61, said. “The situation is very difficult, very acute, and there is the tendency towards further complications.”….