Nyt, 'Russia proposes NATO withdrawal from pre-1997 positions, model is Warsaw Pact'

Two months before invading Ukraine in early 2022, Russia had made a series of demands, including the withdrawal of NATO troops from positions occupied in 1997, before the Western alliance expanded towards Russia's borders. Now, in negotiations this week, the Russians have reiterated that position, in some cases word for word. This was reported by the New York Times, which obtained a copy of a document circulated by Russian officials.

Russia's demands for NATO to withdraw its forces from its eastern flank in Poland and the Baltics put the issue of European security at the center of negotiations on Ukraine. And they clarify the objective behind Putin's public statements. The Russian leader has repeatedly insisted that what he calls the "root causes" of the war - Russia's broad grievances with both NATO and Ukraine - must be addressed before hostilities cease.

The document also highlights how the economic incentives offered to Putin by Trump's envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, have not yet led to concessions from Moscow.

The Russian document, dated November 10, provides new details on the hard line taken by the Kremlin in this week's talks in Abu Dhabi. The document represents Russia's initial position, and Russian officials present at the negotiations signaled that Putin may still be flexible, according to two people involved in the talks.

Russian officials in Abu Dhabi have made it clear that they see the Cold War and the Warsaw Pact as a model for Europe after the war in Ukraine ends. The Russians argued in Abu Dhabi that the separate US and Soviet areas of influence at the time, and the communications and agreements that resulted from them, actually reduced the risk of conflict. However, the Americans urged the Russians to look to the future.