Russia demands NATO halve membership, forcing withdrawal from 16 nations

Russia demands NATO withdraw to its 1997 borders, which would halve the alliance's membership, according to The New York Times, citing sources from peace talks in Abu Dhabi. The demand includes removing troops from eastern member states and banning nuclear weapons use for their defense. The proposal would force countries including Finland, Sweden, Poland, and the Baltic states to leave NATO, with allied forces withdrawn from 16 nations. Russia also demands halting all Western military aid to Ukraine and would only accept Ukrainian EU membership without participation in common defense policy. US Senator Tom Cotton rejected the demands as "absurd," saying Putin has proven he is not serious about peace negotiations. The demands emerged as President Trump, Putin, and Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet Thursday in Shenzhen, China, though Ukraine's war is not on that agenda.