Kremlin welcomes US National Security Strategy but says implementation is key
Photo: Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov (Getty Images)
The Kremlin offered a positive initial reaction to the updated US National Security Strategy but said it would monitor closely how the document is implemented, according to Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov and Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev.
Peskov said the strategy contains language "against confrontation, toward dialogue and building good relations."
"This is encouraging on one hand, but on the other hand, we know what happens when everything looks polished and conceptual on paper, while what they call the deep state acts differently. That's why we need to watch very carefully how this concept is implemented," the Kremlin spokesperson added.'
Medvedev said the new US strategy mentions the need to rebuild ties with Russia openly for the first time in many years.
He cautioned against overestimating the document, saying it is "not just another pile of lofty American diplomatic formulas." He described it as "an attempt to turn a large ship that had been moving on inertia for a long time and finally decided to change course."
New US National Security Strategy
The United States has presented a new National Security Strategy, one of the key points of which is ending the war in Ukraine.
Washington also identifies restoring strategic stability in relations with Russia as a priority in its European policy.
The strategy states that the United States seeks to reestablish stability in Europe, with a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine as the foundation. It also says the US aims for a rapid halt to hostilities to "stabilize the Eurasian space" and reduce the risk of armed conflict between Russia and European states.
US peace plan
In November, the United States presented a new peace plan for ending the war in Ukraine. The draft was prepared by Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
The initial version contained 28 points, most of them favorable to Russia. After US-Ukrainian talks on October 23 and October 30, the list was reduced to 20.
On December 2, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner visited Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and discuss the finalized plan.
After five hours of negotiations, Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov said no compromise had been reached, but both sides were prepared to continue discussions.
