Russia has made it clear that it will not accept any NATO presence in Ukraine and that it would be a direct threat to its security, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after a key meeting with the United States in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
The meeting between Russia and the United States was held under the mediation of Saudi Arabia, where the current situation in the Ukraine war, future strategies and possible peace talks were discussed. The United States was represented at the meeting by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Lavrov's stern warning
"If NATO tries to deploy troops in Ukraine, it will be tantamount to a direct declaration of war against Russia. We will never accept this and will be forced to take appropriate measures to deal with the situation," Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference after the meeting.
He added, "If NATO forces enter Ukraine, it will create instability not only for Russia, but for the whole of Europe. We do not want the conflict in Ukraine to become more widespread, but if Western countries continue to increase their military presence, Russia will also react harshly."
Meanwhile, the United States has reiterated its commitment to continuing military assistance to Ukraine. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “We are committed to protecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will provide all kinds of support to the Ukrainian people in their fight to defend their freedom.”
Rubio added, “NATO and its allies are exploring all possible ways to ensure Ukraine’s security. However, no final decisions have been made in these discussions.”
Analysts believe that relations between Russia and the United States are currently at a very high point, and the Saudi-mediated meeting has opened up some room for dialogue between the two sides. However, Russia's tough stance on the presence of NATO forces and the US's promise to continue military assistance to Ukraine could cause renewed tensions.
Many international experts believe that if NATO forces officially enter Ukraine, it could provoke Russia to take larger military actions. This would not only widen the scope of the Ukraine-Russia war, but could also create new conflict situations in Europe and other regions.
Saudi Arabia is acting as a mediator in these talks and wants Russia and the United States to reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. This initiative by Saudi Arabia is being praised in international circles, as it has successfully completed several rounds of prisoner exchanges and diplomatic talks in the past.
Although no immediate solution emerged from the meeting, it demonstrates that the international community still wants a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Saudi Arabia hopes that a more high-level meeting in the future will be able to find a way to end the war.
The talks between Russia and the United States in Saudi Arabia will have a significant impact on international politics. If Russia sees the presence of NATO troops as a declaration of war, it could lead to a larger conflict in the future. On the other hand, the United States is adamant about continuing military assistance to Ukraine, which could create new challenges for Russia.
The world is now waiting to see how the Ukraine war will play out in the future as a result of these talks. However, it is clear that the Ukraine war is not yet on the path to a quick resolution and tensions between Russia and the United States are likely to persist for a long time.
