MOSCOW. Feb 17 (Interfax) - NATO's growing military activities near Russia's borders is alarming, and the ultimatum-like demands that Russia remove its own troops from certain areas in its own territory are unacceptable, the Russian written reply to the U.S. concerning proposals on security guarantees says.
"The growing U.S. and NATO military activities immediately near Russian borders is alarming, while our red lines and fundamental security interests, as well as Russia's sovereign right to protect them, have still been ignored," the document circulated on Thursday and translated from Russian by Interfax says.
Apart from that, "the ultimatum-like demands on removing our troops from certain areas within Russian territory, accompanied by threats to toughen sanctions, are unacceptable and undermine prospects for achieving real agreements," it said.