Political | Process

As talks continue, the standoff between Moscow and the West over Ukraine shows no signs of easing. 

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• Putin made his first public comments since December about the crisis, which has threatened European security, as Moscow was studying the U.S. and NATO’s response to its security demands and the world was waiting for his next move on Ukraine. 

• The demands, issued by the Kremlin in December, were rejected by Washington and NATO as nonstarters, but they gave written responses to Moscow last week. Russia has yet to respond formally.

• The U.S. and Western allies have said Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders, prompting fears of an invasion.

• Moscow has repeatedly denied planning an attack, and Washington and its allies have threatened swift and punishing financial penalties if it does invade.

• Putin’s remarks Tuesday reflected his view that Russia needs to defend itself from an aggressive U.S. He said Washington does not have Ukraine’s best interests at heart and that it is instead pursuing its main goal to “restrain the development of Russia,” using Ukraine as a “tool.”

• The West, he added, has “conned” Russia by reneging on its promises in the early 1990s that NATO would not expand eastward.

• But Moscow remains open to more talks with the West, Putin said, adding that he hopes for an eventual solution that would take every party’s concerns into account.

SOURCE: NBC