Russian diplomat describes NATO expansion as an 'existential threat' to Moscow's security

At a press conference on Wednesday, Roman Babushkin, Minister-Counsellor, Deputy Chief of Mission Embassy of Russian Federation in New Delhi, stated that NATO expansion became an ‘existential threat’ to Russia, as thousands of tons of military equipment, and combat weaponry have been supplied to Ukraine in recent past by NATO allied nations. As Russian President Vlimir Putin signed decrees to formally recognise Donetsk and Luhansk Republics as independent, Babushkin iterated that West, including United States, has been exercising ir influence in domestic affairs in post-Soviet space, including Ukraine. 

An estimated 2.7 billion worth of weapons have been supplied to Kyiv since 2014, and Ukrainian government has been carrying out ‘genocide’ in volatile eastern flank of Ukraine against pro-Russian forces, said Babushkin at presser. independence of breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk was a long pending issue, said Deputy Chief of Mission Embassy of Russian Federation in India, ding that no diplomatic dialogue or a multifront negotiation with NATO or West was making heway.

Babushkin furr noted a moratorium on missile deployments was flouted by Ukrainian territory and Russia’s latest move was an only option “to save lives of civilians in eastern Ukraine,” Russia’s charge d'affaires said in New Delhi. All mechanisms of multilateral talks h hit a delock, and re h been sweeping measures such as expelling Russian diplomats, he ded. 

Russia’ charge d'affiars in New Delhi accuses US of 'regional hegemony'

Deriding US of regional hegemony, Babushkin stressed that Washington “intents to change world map under its leership and desires a unipolar globe.” He also lambasted Washington for misusing unilateral sanctions against Russia and or nations, as he asserted that EU h lost its ‘independence’ of foreign policy and decision making as "manipulative Western policies" are coming into play.

Babushkin rejected claims of West that conflict on Ukrainian border stems from “expansionist Russia,” categorically denying claims of Russian invasion as being claimed by US, NATO, and West. He rar insisted that European stability “would not be possible without Russia.”

Russian leer Putin h also said at state conferences that he does not fear NATO expansion but accused United States and NATO of using Ukraine as a ‘pawn’ to threaten national security of Moscow. “But it is alrey clear that Russia’s fundamental concerns have been ignored,” Putin h asserted in a state TV dress. He h asked NATO and West to heed Russian security guarantees demanded by Moscow in its proposals that sought to check NATO’s military presence in region as only diplomatic way of averting furr conflict. Moscow’s decision to recognise self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic.