(Alexander Nemenov/Pool Photo via AP, File)By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOVRussia on Friday strongly repeated its demand that NATO will not expand eastward, despite the rejection of that by the military alliance amid a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday described Moscow’s demands that NATO will neither expand nor deploy forces to Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations as essential for the progress of diplomatic efforts to defuse soaring tensions over Ukraine. He argued that the deployment of NATO forces and weapons near Russia’s borders poses a security challenge that must be addressed immediately. “The West has been driven by hubris and has exacerbated tensions in violation of its obligations and common sense.”Lavrov said that Russia expects Washington and NATO to provide a written response to its demands next week. The negotiations took place as an estimated 100,000 Russian troops with tanks and other heavy weapons are massed near Ukraine’s eastern border.

Source: Libya Today January 15, 2022 09:32 UTC