The US asked Russia to submit a proposal for a future agreement on the European security architecture.
For years, Russia has sought an agreement that would limit NATO expansion and reduce the alliance's military presence in Eastern Europe. In the past, the United States rejected these demands, but, apparently, Washington is now ready to discuss them in one way or another as part of a broader agreement to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, the publication reports.
According to Axios, the document that the US asked Russia to draft must take into account Russia's security concerns and requirements. In addition, the proposal should indicate the "symmetrical steps" that Russia is willing to take to weaken and reassure Europe of non-aggression in the future.
Special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will repeat their request for a Russian version of the agreement in a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. In addition, according to one of the American officials, Witkoff and Kushner intend to obtain Moscow's consent for the participation of European representatives in the next round of negotiations on Ukraine.
According to the publication, European representatives who were in Abu Dhabi during a tripartite meeting on Ukraine agreed to simultaneously discuss both directions - conflict settlement and an agreement on common security, emphasizing that final decisions on the future European security architecture will be made and implemented only after the end of the conflict.
The US has made it clear that it will not give Russia a veto on European security issues and will not agree to a security proposal unless Europe and Ukraine support it, Axios sources said.