Russian Deputy Foreign Minister

Ahead of the US-Russia talks today, the United States and NATO should now show flexibility in negotiations on security guarantees, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Sputnik, noting that Russia has been doing this for 30 years and it is time to draw the line.

"A conversation cannot be built productively, based only on one's own position, it is necessary to be able to perceive the position of another country. We have been taking the position of another country as it is for 30 years. Now, it is necessary to draw a line under this period of trying to find a common denominator, showing flexibility," Ryabkov said.

The Russian diplomat stressed that "now the other side must show flexibility."

If the US and NATO cannot do this, then they will face degradation in their own security situation if they do not show readiness for dialogue with Russia on guarantees the diplomat said.

On US statement on non-deployment of missiles in Ukraine, Ryabkov said Geneva talks should generally be about Ukraine’s non-joining NATO, asserting that a “constructive dialogue on guarantees with us is impossible without revising 2008 NATO Summit decisions on future of Ukraine in the alliance.”

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will lead the US team during the US-Russia bilateral talks today. Sherman was part of the US negotiating team during the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal. This meeting will be followed by a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in Brussels on Wednesday.

What happened?

Russia has repeatedly warned the US and NATO to stop the latter's eastward expansion near its borders. The West has also been conducting military drills in the Black Sea, which Russia called “provocative”.

The talks will include restrictions on missiles and the scope of US military maneuvers in Europe. However, the US denied reports that it was considering cuts to its troop levels in Europe, saying this wasn't on the table.

For the first time, the US has already detailed what options it is considering in case diplomacy fails and "Russia proceeds with an invasion of Ukraine," and these include sanctions, banning the export of US technology needed for Russian defense and consumer industries, and possibly arming Ukrainian insurgents.