Russia wants to bar all NATO military activity in the South Caucasus, The New York Times reports
- Published
- Place
- Abu Dhabi / Moscow
- Event date
- Past event —
Summary
Russia is demanding that NATO renounce “any military activity” in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, but also in the South Caucasus and Central Asia. That is what a Russian document obtained by The New York Times and published on Friday 13 November shows. Dated 10 November, the text circulated during talks in Abu Dhabi with Donald Trump’s envoys on ending the war in Ukraine. Moscow also calls for the Alliance’s troops and bases to return to their 1997 positions, before its eastward expansion. For Armenia, the mention of the South Caucasus is no detail: it places the whole region in the zone where Russia rejects a Western military presence. According to participants quoted, it is an opening position, and Vladimir Putin could show flexibility.
The document carries no letterhead or signature. In diplomatic language, it is a “non-paper”: an unofficial text setting out one side’s position. The New York Times says it obtained it from a participant in the talks. Another source familiar with the negotiations confirmed its authenticity.
The Abu Dhabi talks brought together American, Russian and Ukrainian representatives this week. It was their first face-to-face meeting since February. On Thursday, envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were then received by Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
The 2021 demands, almost word for word
The text largely repeats demands Moscow made in December 2021, two months before the invasion of Ukraine. NATO would have to rule out any further enlargement. It would also have to pull its forces and bases back to their 1997 positions, which would primarily affect Poland and the Baltic states.
The document sometimes goes further. It calls for an end to all Western arms deliveries to Ukraine. Kyiv could join the European Union only if it stayed out of its common defence policy. And France and the United Kingdom would have to rule out using their nuclear weapons to protect other European countries.
The South Caucasus on the list
The wording that directly concerns Armenia is brief: “any military activity” by NATO would be ruled out “in Eastern Europe, in the South Caucasus and in Central Asia”. The South Caucasus means Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. According to the published excerpts, the document does not name any of these countries.
The context makes the phrase sensitive. Yerevan has drifted away from Moscow and, on 11 November, lost its voting rights in the CSTO, the Russian-led military alliance. At the same time, Armenia keeps moving closer to the European Union and the United States.
An opening position
According to the paper, the Americans replied that much had changed since 2021 and urged the Russians to “look toward the future”. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk rejected the demands, calling them a direct threat to his country’s security.
Analysis
This document decides nothing: it is a wish list, presented at the start of a negotiation. But it clearly shows how Moscow sees the South Caucasus: a zone where the West should have no military presence. For Yerevan, which is looking for new security partners, the message is plain. Russia wants its sphere of influence recognised in a broader deal on Ukraine. Everything will depend on what Washington is willing to accept, or to refuse.
Possible consequences
Talks between American and Russian envoys are due to continue. The final content of any agreement is not known.
