In his speech on November 18, 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to develop long-term security guarantees for Russia. The speech was delivered in the context of renewed Russian troop buildups near Ukraine’s borders—movements first reported by the media in early October based on U.S. intelligence sources. The Russian leadership is thus clearly attempting to bring the West to the negotiating table through military pressure.
Putin’s conviction that the West only understands the language of force does not seem unfounded, as—much like during the military posturing in the spring of the previous year—his current show of strength has once again succeeded in drawing Washington’s attention. For the Russian leadership, maintaining good relations with the West is no longer a goal in itself, as the Kremlin’s experience suggests that such relations have not led to the consideration of Russian interests in the past.
This analysis examines the demands and objectives Moscow is pursuing in connection with the U.S.–Russia negotiations that began yesterday.
