Russia Denies Reports of Request for NATO Troop Withdrawal from Eastern Europe

Russia has denied reports regarding its request to the United States for the withdrawal of NATO forces from neighboring countries or those close to Russia's borders. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, stated on Friday, March 3, "No, that is not true. Our position is, of course, clear: we are concerned about the expansion of NATO's military infrastructure towards our borders, and this is no secret." This reaction followed comments by Cristian Diaconescu, senior advisor to the Romanian president, who claimed in a television interview that Russia had made such a request in its recent negotiations with the U.S. in Riyadh. He later clarified that this request actually pertained to 2021, prior to Russia's extensive invasion of Ukraine. Russia has long criticized the presence of NATO forces in the Baltic states and Poland and has objected to the deployment of NATO missile defense systems in Poland and Romania. The Kremlin views NATO's eastward expansion as a threat and has cited this as one of the reasons for its invasion of Ukraine. Given the positions of the Trump administration, which repeatedly criticized NATO member countries for not increasing their defense spending, concerns have arisen in Europe that Washington may retreat in the face of Russian demands. Earlier this month (February), U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Ukraine would not join NATO and that the U.S. would not participate in any peacekeeping mission in the country. He also emphasized that NATO would not support any country involved in such a mission if attacked by Russia. Diaconescu mentioned in an interview on Wednesday, March 1, that Russia expects the U.S. to compel its European allies to reduce NATO's security commitments to the level of 1997. However, he later explained that this request was made in the past and not in recent negotiations, and that both the United States and Europe have not accepted and will not accept this request. Meanwhile, Polish President Andrzej Duda, whose country is a major supporter of Ukraine, stated that he has received assurances from the U.S. that there will be no troop reductions in the region. After meeting with Kate Klag, Trump's special representative, he said, "There is no concern that the U.S. will retreat from its commitments to the security of this region." The Kremlin had made similar requests for NATO withdrawal in late 2021, just before the onset of the extensive invasion of Ukraine. At that time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov demanded in negotiations with the United States a ban on Ukraine's NATO membership and the return of NATO forces and weapons to their positions prior to 1997. Currently, NATO has deployed about 30,000 troops in the form of eight military groups in Eastern Europe and the Baltic states. Oana Lungescu, former NATO spokesperson, stated that "Putin continues to pursue the same previous goals: dominance over Ukraine and creating division between Europe and America." She emphasized that instead of worrying and speculating, Europe should focus on its own interests and security.