It is unlikely that the US, NATO and European allies will accept Russia's demands

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Russia should not expect the US and its allies to agree to its recent demand for a series of "security guarantees", including a ban on further NATO expansion and an end to all Alliance military activities in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, experts and US officials said, Voice of America (VoA) reported today.

The US and its NATO allies have, however, signaled that they might be willing to enter into negotiations with Russia, especially if the Kremlin agrees to reduce troop numbers along the border with Ukraine, which has raised concerns about a possible invasion.

The US and NATO responded to a pair of draft agreements that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented to them earlier this week, and then publicly released on Friday.

The drafts, which were prepared without consultation with the US and NATO, would oblige the Alliance not to deploy additional troops in countries that did not already have NATO forces in 1997. This would include former members of the Eastern European bloc such as Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Baltic states, and several other former Soviet republics.

The proposed agreement would also oblige both sides to limit the deployment of short- and medium-range missiles and large-scale military exercises near the Russian border.

US and NATO officials have pointed out that the drafts do not contain major concessions from Russia regarding the Alliance's concerns, such as troop levels near Ukraine and other aggressive actions by the Kremlin.

"It is clear to us that any dialogue with Russia must be based on reciprocity, address NATO's concerns about Russian actions, be based on key principles and fundamental documents of European security, and be conducted in consultation with NATO's European partners," NATO said, adding that if Russia takes concrete steps to reduce tensions, there is a willingness to strengthen confidence-building measures.

The State Department expressed a similar view, stating that the US is willing to talk with Russia, but added that the US administration will not negotiate with Russia on European security without European partners present.

As VoA adds, US authorities are preparing a response to Russia's demands, which they intend to deliver next week.