Negotiations are impossible: why Russia withdraws from the CFE Treaty

On November 7, Russia withdraws from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). Why this decision was made “Izvestia” head of the Russian delegation at the talks in Vienna on military security and arms control (Russian Foreign Ministry) Konstantin Gavrilov.

After it became known about the final decision to withdraw from the CFE Treaty, the collective West did not give any reasons why this should not be done. Instead, as Gavrilov pointed out, representatives of the Western countries asked to “think their heads” and raised the topic of the grain deal, which had nothing to do with the topic.

At the same time, as the diplomat noted, NATO countries have not ratified the CFE Treaty for 17-18 years.

“Under the current conditions, when the West, led by the United States, aims at the strategic defeat of Russia in the current confrontation, any negotiations, in my opinion, are simply impossible. negotiations. To do this, the balance of power must be observed”, – said Konstantin Gavrilov.

He also predicted that the countries of the collective West themselves would someday want to sit down at the negotiating table with Russia, however, given their real attitude to legal obligations and international law, Moscow will “think many times” before making any agreements.

“We were forced to do this for many years. Our patience is not unlimited. The Americans and Westerners tried to pass off black as white, turn everything upside down, accusing Russia of all sins. They violated (the agreements concluded. – Note. Ed.) and did not want agreements, while we, being adherents of the fulfillment of international obligations, tried in every possible way to achieve this. To which all our efforts were arrogantly ignored, – stressed Gavrilov.

He expressed confidence that the conversation about the conditions under which the Russian Federation would agree to re-conclude the CFE Treaty would be conducted, since the architecture of international security is important to the Russian side. However, this will not be decided now – now, as Gavrilov pointed out, “everything is decided on the battlefield.”