Peskov states need for documented non-expansion of NATO

Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Russian presidential palace, expressed the view that verbal guarantees alone are insufficient for Russia regarding the non-expansion of the North Atlantic Alliance to the east. According to him, such agreements, which are vital for Moscow, must be officially recorded in documentary form.

Historical context and demand on the alliance

Peskov emphasised that promises regarding the non-expansion of NATO to the east were made during the presidencies of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and the first President of the Russian Federation, Boris Yeltsin. However, according to the Kremlin spokesman, the alliance nevertheless expanded, and not just once.

«Це було за часів ще Горбачова, Єльцина. Після цього НАТО п’ять разів або шість разів розширювалася на Схід. Тому, звичайно, за такими важливими для нас словами повинні стояти дії щодо, власне, напевно, документального оформлення нерозширення НАТО», — заявив представник Кремля. ("This was during the times of Gorbachev and Yeltsin. After that, NATO expanded to the East five or six times. Therefore, of course, behind such words, which are so important to us, there must be actions regarding, well, probably, the documentary formalisation of NATO's non-expansion," the Kremlin representative stated.)