Kremlin demands NATO rollback to 1997 positions in Ukraine peace talks

During recent Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi, Russia presented a non-paper demanding NATO withdraw its military presence to 1997 positions, according to the New York Times. The demand goes beyond Ukraine's future. The Kremlin seeks to roll back NATO troops and infrastructure to pre-1999 expansion lines, affecting Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Baltic states. Russia also demands an end to NATO nuclear sharing and restrictions on French and British nuclear deterrence for European allies. Western weapons deliveries to Ukraine would cease, and Kyiv's EU membership would require non-participation in common defense policy. The demand echoes Moscow's December 2021 proposals, which the West rejected. The undated non-paper, verified by two sources, signals possible flexibility from Putin, though US negotiators noted changed conditions since 2021. Russia seeks withdrawal of military presence, not formal NATO exits.