Stoltenberg proposed to Russia to create a buffer zone in Eastern Europe before the invasion of Ukraine
Kyiv • UNN
In 2021, the former NATO Secretary General discussed with Lavrov the withdrawal of troops to the 1997 borders. Russia rejected the plan, presenting its own ultimatum to the Alliance.
Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discussed with Russian authorities the withdrawal of Alliance troops from Eastern European countries and the creation of a "buffer zone" in the Baltic states. This is reported by UNN with reference to Baltic Sentinel.
Details
In the autumn of 2021, before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Stoltenberg met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and proposed discussing the idea of creating a "buffer zone," as well as withdrawing NATO infrastructure to the 1997 borders, as Moscow insisted.
Poland and the Baltic states opposed this, insisting on not making any concessions to the Kremlin. At the same time, Russia rejected this plan, as it sought full control over Eastern Europe. In January 2022, a month before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a Russia-NATO meeting took place: then Moscow stated that its proposals were not a subject for discussion, but, de facto, an ultimatum. Allegedly, "fulfill our demands, or it will be worse."
At the same time, Stoltenberg wrote in his memoirs that the threat of the US leaving NATO was quite real.
Advisers to US President Donald Trump seriously prepared this step, but it was during Trump's presidency that NATO members began to invest more money in defense.
Recall
Former US Special Envoy for Ukraine, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg stated that NATO may need a replacement, arguing that the organization has shown itself to be "cowardly" and ineffective during the conflict with Iran.