Nato has warned there is a ‘real risk of new armed conflict in Europe’ after talks with Russia failed to resolve the crisis over Ukraine.
Western allies say they are willing to discuss arms control and missile deployments with Moscow, but they will never allow the Kremlin to veto Kiev’s ambition to join Nato, they said.
The two sides launched negotiations after Russia posted 100,000 troops along its border with the former Soviet state.
But following four hours of talks, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said ‘significant differences’ remain.
‘Our differences will not be easy to bridge, but it is a positive sign that all Nato allies and Russia sat down around the same table and engaged on substantive topics,’ he added.
He warned Russia would ‘pay a high price’ if it used any force against Ukraine. But Moscow denies claims it is planning to invade the country.
It says it needs guarantees for its own security, including a halt to any further Nato expansion and a withdrawal of forces from east European nations that joined the alliance after the Cold War.
US deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman said Russia brought ‘nothing new’ to the table at the talks but, importantly, did not reject the idea of further discussions.
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The failed negotiations follows Russia sending troops to Kazakhstan, where at least 164 people, including three children, have died during anti-government protests.
Thousands have been arrested following a crackdown on the demonstrations, triggered by rising fuel costs, which turned into widespread rioting over economic hardship.
Most of the dead were in the capital city Almaty, where rioters took over official buildings and set them on fire.
A Russian-led deployment of foreign soldiers helped police seize the buildings back from the protesters.
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Soldiers from Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan were among the troops deployed by the Russia-dominated Collective Security Council (CSTO).
They were described as ‘peacekeepers’ but were given ‘shoot to kill’ orders.
Meanwhile, aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has embarked on its first voyage as the head of Nato’s rapid response task force.
The 65,000-ton warship sailed from Portsmouth to join military exercises off Norway yesterday.
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