17 Dec 2021 16:28

Russian reps ready to go to third country even tomorrow to discuss proposed security guarantees - Ryabkov

MOSCOW. Dec 17 (Interfax) - Russian representatives stand ready to go to a third country immediately to discuss the proposals on security guarantees earlier passed to the United States, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

"We, for our part, stand ready to immediately, as soon as tomorrow, in the literal sense of this word, on Saturday, December 18, go to a third country for talks with the U.S. Geneva has been offered to the Americans in this context in order to launch these crucial talks on the platform, on the basis of these two draft documents," Ryabkov said at a press briefing on Friday.

Both texts submitted by Russia "are not a menu card where one can choose something, but they complement each other and should be treated as a package," he said.

Russia needs an all-around, comprehensive approach to security, he said.

"It is fundamentally important to ensure that security guarantees are put on paper and become legally binding as much as possible. [...] There is no other option," Ryabkov said.