Turkish Defense issues a statement on the eve of the Russia-NATO meeting

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar urged not to escalate the situation and to refrain from any provocative behavior on the eve of the Russia-NATO meeting.

We are for peace and solve problems through negotiations. We urge you not to escalate the situation and to refrain from any provocative behavior that may be perceived as provocative.”

Earlier, the US State Department said that Moscow’s realistic position is required to make progress in the Russian-US negotiations.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said some of Moscow’s demands on Washington on security issues were “absolutely impossible”. He added that the Russian authorities are aware of the proposals that cannot be implemented and which ones can become a topic of dialogue.

Blinken also separately stressed that NATO had not made promises to Russia not to expand the alliance to the east.