Kremlin seeks NATO's return to its 1997 borders: NYT reports on Russia's demands in Abu Dhabi talks
According to the newspaper, Moscow has effectively returned to demands it made to NATO in late 2021. At the time, Russia called on the Alliance to abandon the so-called nuclear sharing arrangements, which allow US allies in Europe to benefit from the protection of the American nuclear arsenal.
Now Moscow also wants France and the United Kingdom, as Europe's nuclear-armed states, to rule out using their nuclear weapons to defend other European countries.
The document also calls for NATO troops and military bases to be withdrawn to the Alliance's 1997 borders, before NATO began expanding into Central and Eastern Europe. Meeting this demand would weaken the security of NATO allies, including Poland and the Baltic states.
As for Ukraine, Russia is effectively demanding an end to military aid to Kyiv. At the same time, Moscow does not oppose Ukraine joining the European Union, provided the country does not participate in the bloc's common defence policy.
According to The New York Times, Russian officials indicated that they envisage a future European security model resembling the Cold War era and the Warsaw Pact, the Soviet-led military alliance. In the Russian delegation's view, the division of spheres of influence between the United States and the Soviet Union at the time reduced the risk of armed confrontation.
The Russian side stressed, however, that the document outlines the Kremlin's initial negotiating position, which may leave room for compromise.
In response, US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner noted that the situation had changed significantly since December 2021. They urged the Russian side to focus on the future and proposed drawing up new proposals with concrete concessions that could help reduce tensions.
Earlier, German tabloid Bild reported on Moscow's conditions at the talks in Abu Dhabi. According to the publication, Russia had allegedly demanded that Finland leave NATO. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later denied that Moscow had made such a demand.
Bild also reported that Russia wanted to turn Moldova into a federal state comprising Transnistria and Gagauzia. These regions could be granted the right to hold independence referendums if Moldova joined the EU.
Regarding Ukraine, Moscow was reportedly continuing to demand:
In return, Russia allegedly offered the following as possible concessions:
As Rubryka previously reported, in June 2024, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin announced new proposals for a "peace settlement" to end the war against Ukraine. Among other demands, he called on Kyiv to abandon its bid to join NATO and recognise certain Ukrainian regions as Russian.
In January 2022, Putin also said that the US and NATO responses had failed to address Russia's "fundamental concerns". These included preventing further NATO enlargement, ruling out the deployment of offensive weapons systems near Russia's borders, and returning the Alliance's military capabilities and infrastructure in Europe to their 1997 positions, as Rubryka reported.
On 13 November 2026, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also reaffirmed that EU countries share a common position on supporting Ukraine in the peace process. Moreover, European countries will not agree to a revision of the security architecture in Eastern Europe without being involved, even if Russia or the United States demands it.
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14 of November 2026
