Russian Diplomat Outlines Three European Security Options

Russian Foreign Ministry diplomat Alexey Drobinin outlined three possible approaches to European security, including bilateral nonaggression agreements with individual NATO members, as Russia-Ukraine negotiations resumed in Abu Dhabi. His remarks described Russian proposals, not agreements, and no potential NATO partner was identified.

Speaking at a security conference in Moscow, Drobinin described a collective-defense alliance or mutual-assistance agreements as one option. He cited Russia’s arrangements with Belarus and North Korea as examples. A second approach would involve countries agreeing not to support one another’s adversaries in the event of aggression; Drobinin pointed to Russia’s pact with Iran.

The third option was bilateral nonaggression agreements. Drobinin said individual NATO member states could enter such arrangements and receive additional security guarantees from Russia. He did not name any countries that might take part, and there was no indication that bilateral negotiations had begun.

The proposals were outlined as Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. officials resumed talks in Abu Dhabi, the first negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since February. Russian...