U.S. and NATO Respond to Putin’s Demands as Ukraine Tensions Mount
The New York Times
The formal responses offered President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia a choice: negotiate or risk facing punishing economic sanctions.
WASHINGTON — The United States and its allies on Wednesday formally rejected Russia’s demands that NATO retreat from Eastern Europe and bar Ukraine from ever entering the alliance, but they proposed several areas — including nuclear arms control and limits on military exercises — where they were willing to negotiate.
The written responses, issued separately by the Biden administration and NATO, offered President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia a choice: enter negotiations with Washington and its allies, including Ukraine, or proceed with an invasion and face what the administration says will be crushing economic sanctions.
American intelligence officials say Mr. Putin still has not made a decision — and may not for several weeks.