Putin's reversal... Re-emphasis on hard-line stance against NATO's advance to the U.S.

The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 13th (local time) that Russia has resumed its hard-line stance at the start of the war, demanding the withdrawal of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from Eastern Europe in the resumption of the Ukraine war-ending negotiations mediated by the United States.

According to reports, Russia presented these demands during closed-door trilateral negotiations between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the 10th and 11th of this month.

According to a Russian document obtained by the NYT from a person involved in the negotiations, Russia demanded that NATO retreat to the level of troop deployments prior to its expansion into Eastern Europe in 1997.

The order is to withdraw troops and bases from NATO's eastern region, including Poland and the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania).

The document also included a ban on further expansion of NATO membership and the suspension of all NATO military activities not only in Ukraine but also in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus (Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia), and Central Asia.

He also called for a complete halt to the supply of Western weapons and military equipment to Ukraine.

The demands presented about two months before the invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 were revived, including some of the wording, and were brought to the negotiation table.

Furthermore, in addition to demanding the abolition of the existing US nuclear umbrella system, Russia also argued that Britain and France should rule out the possibility of using nuclear weapons to protect other European countries.

Russia has stated that Ukraine's accession to the European Union (EU) can only be approved on the condition that it does not participate in the EU's common defense policy.

However, officials involved in the negotiations said that there is still room for Russian President Vladimir Putin to show flexibility.

U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, reportedly said that the situation has changed significantly since the start of the Ukraine War and urged people to look to the future and not be caught up in the past.

The two special envoys conveyed the general position that Russia's new proposal could be reviewed if Russia presented concrete measures to ease tensions.

On the 12th, following the Abu Dhabi negotiations, special envoys Witkoff and Kushner moved to Moscow, Russia, and met President Putin in person.

Russian media reported that President Putin said at this meeting that Russia's demand for withdrawal of NATO troops in 2021 is still the core of the 'indivisible security system' envisioned by Russia.

Afterwards, the two special envoys met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin, Ireland and explained the details of the negotiations. Kushner began to address concerns about 'European passing', saying, "This agreement cannot be finalized without Europeans sitting at the negotiating table."

European countries strongly opposed Russia's demands.

In particular, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk pointed out that accepting Russia's conditions is a direct threat to Polish security, and that it is an unacceptable demand not only for Ukraine but also for Europe.

Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden emphasized that Europe should not be excluded from the negotiations as the United States, Russia, and Ukraine virtually discuss the future of Europe.

The NYT assessed that it has become more difficult to find a compromise to persuade President Putin to end the war as Russia presents security demands that are virtually unchanged from about five years ago.

Meanwhile, President Trump and President Putin are scheduled to meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Shenzhen, China on the 18th and 19th. Attention is being paid to whether discussions surrounding the European security order will take place at this event.