Threats to global security will grow, if Russia, US fail to reach agreements — source

"There is a direct sense for Russia and the United States to reach an agreement. Otherwise, threats to global security will grow higher," the source said following Monday’s Russian-US talks in Geneva.

It was also mentioned that "the US delegation in Geneva promised to report on the results of its talks with Russia to its superiors and give a written response next week."

"The Americans promised to report on the results of the Geneva [talks] to their superiors and give us a written response next week. This is what we will proceed from. They have made a promise, so they should keep it," the source said.

"We need a specific response to our concerns, first and foremost, in terms of the need to prevent NATO’s expansion," the source added.

He also pointed to the United States’ "hardheaded position" on Ukraine. "They say that they won’t discuss Ukraine’s NATO accession without Ukraine. But it’s NATO - primarily, Washington - that decides on admitting new members, it’s not that Ukraine can make statements on its own. They should not avoid this responsibility," the source stressed.

"We would like to believe that their position will not prevail over common sense. It’s totally reasonable for Russia and the US to make agreements. Otherwise, global security threats will grow," he concluded.

Russian-US consultations on security guarantees took place in Geneva on January 10. Moscow’s concerns about European security and draft agreements on security guarantees will be discussed at a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council on January 12 and at a session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Permanent Council on January 13.

On December 17, 2021, the Russian Foreign Ministry released a draft agreement on security guarantees between Russia and the United States and a draft agreement on ensuring the security of Russia and NATO member states.