Russia Rejects Talks After Suggesting NATO Nations Are 'Legitimate' Targets

Authored by newsweek.com and submitted by NippyAardvark

NATO-Russia communication is "out of the question" currently, while Russia's war is underway against Ukraine, state media reported, after a top Russian official suggested that NATO countries could be "legitimate" military targets.

According to Russian News Agency TASS, dialogues between NATO and Russia are not going to happen due to current developments. The state-run news agency cited an unnamed source in Moscow with this update.

The source told TASS, Russia "should not be expected" to make "a conceptual return" to previous security guarantees that it sent to the United States and NATO a year ago.

"We won't be the ones to do it," the source told TASS. "The reason is that if we do, the need will arise to update the position, which cannot be updated because everything depends on how the situation on the ground unfolds during the special military operation," the source noted.

This update comes after former Russian president and deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev suggested that all NATO nations could be subject to military targeting.

In a statement posted to his Telegram channel, Medvedev questioned the delivery of weapons to Ukraine from NATO nations.

"Today...the main question is whether the hybrid war de facto declared on our country by NATO can be considered to be the alliance's entry into war with Russia? Is it possible to view the delivery of a large volume of weapons to Ukraine as an attack on Russia?" he questioned.

"The leaders of NATO countries keep unanimously squawking that their countries and the entire bloc are not at war with Russia," Medvedev continued. "Yet, everyone is well aware that this is not the case."

On Friday, NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu reiterated the need for NATO to support Ukraine saying, "Putin is planning for a long war, so NATO allies must continue to support Ukraine."

Putin is planning for a long war, so #NATO allies must continue to support #Ukraine - read the interview by General ⁦@jensstoltenberg⁩ to ⁦@afpfr⁩ 🔽 https://t.co/JGh70Eat6p — Oana Lungescu (@NATOpress) December 16, 2022

Lungescu linked to an interview by NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in which he told Agence France Presse on Friday, "We see that they [Russia] are mobilizing more forces, that they are willing to suffer also a lot of casualties, that they are trying to get access to more weapons and ammunition."

"We have to understand that President Putin is ready to be in this war for a long time and to launch new offensives," Stoltenberg added.

Political analyst Craig Agranoff told Newsweek on Saturday, "Unfortunately, efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict including through negotiations and diplomatic efforts, have so far been unsuccessful." Agranoff continued, "It is difficult to predict the future outlook for the conflict, as it depends on the actions and decisions of the government and other parties involved."

"It is important for all parties to work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and for the international community to support efforts to find a peaceful and sustainable solution," Agranoff said.

NATO allies, led by the United States, have sent billions of dollars in weapons and aid to Ukraine.

moose098 on December 17th, 2022 at 20:21 UTC »

It was Medvedev who said NATO are “legitimate targets” for anyone wondering. He’s been saying insane shit like this from the beginning.

LocustSwarm36 on December 17th, 2022 at 19:27 UTC »

You know what else are legitimate targets? These hands

Iworshipokkoto on December 17th, 2022 at 19:26 UTC »

As usual he talks big to appear strong to the Russians but even he knows Russia isn't stupid enough to legitimately target NATO.