The best guarantee of Ukraine’s security would be firm security guarantees for Russia — an issue that is not being discussed in the West, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko told RIA Novosti.

According to Grushko, Western discussions on a peace settlement consistently focus on providing security guarantees to Ukraine, while over recent months and even years there have been no statements about including security guarantees for Russia as part of a peace formula. He stressed that it is obvious that Ukraine’s security ultimately depends on ensuring Russia’s security.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has repeatedly stated that any scenario involving the deployment of NATO troops on Ukrainian territory is unacceptable and carries the risk of sharp escalation. President Vladimir Putin has said that Moscow would regard foreign military contingents near Russia’s borders as legitimate military targets. He has also noted that following a peace agreement, the presence of foreign troops in a neighboring country would be impractical.

Grushko added that if Ukraine’s territory ceases to be used as a platform for creating threats to Russia’s security, this would automatically ensure Ukraine’s own security as well.