U.S. and NATO answer Putin in writing while bracing for Ukraine invasion
AxiosJan 27, 2022
The Facts
Amid increasing tensions, the US and NATO delivered separate but "mutually re-enforcing" written submissions to Russia on Wednesday.
In a joint press conference, US Sec. of State Anthony Blinken and NATO Sec. General Jens Stoltenberg said that their overture shows they're serious about a diplomatic path forward – while conceding "there's no secret that we're far apart."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
In light of Russia's troop movements and its imminent threat of invading Ukraine, these documents show the US and NATO are serious about diplomacy, while ruling out compromise on "core principles" such as Ukraine's possible entry into NATO or keeping offensive weapons systems out of the country.
Pro-Russia narrative
NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns, at their peril. NATO broke its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification, and Russia must draw a red line at Ukraine.
Establishment-critical narrative
Tensions in Ukraine have their roots in 2014 when a pro-Russian government was removed with the defacto backing of the US. The US is largely responsible for the ratcheting up of tensions by delivering arms and whipping up a frenzy about Russia's troop movements within its own borders.