A senior Russian diplomat said Moscow could consider bilateral non-aggression pacts with individual NATO member states, outlining one option for a broader European security framework being discussed alongside the Ukraine peace process. The remarks describe a possible arrangement; they do not announce a pact with NATO or an agreement accepted by any NATO country.

What Russia’s diplomat said about possible NATO pacts

Alexey Drobinin, a senior official in Russia’s Foreign Ministry, presented several possible models at a security conference in Moscow on Nov. 11, Reuters reported. One was a bilateral non-aggression agreement with an individual NATO member, potentially paired with separate Russian security assurances for that country. Reuters said the remarks were available in video posted online.

Drobinin also described two broader alternatives: a collective defense arrangement or mutual-assistance treaties, and political agreements under which states would not help an adversary during aggression. He cited Russia’s existing agreements with Belarus and North Korea as examples of the first type, and its pact with Iran as an example of the second, according to Reuters.

A proposal discussed as Ukraine talks resume

The comments came as Russia, Ukraine and the United States held two days of talks in Abu Dhabi. Russia’s chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said a new European security framework had been a central subject, but did not disclose what the negotiators discussed, Reuters reported. The Associated Press reported that the talks ended without a major breakthrough on ending the war, with postwar security guarantees and the role of European countries among the unresolved issues.

Separately, Axios reported that the U.S. had asked Moscow to put forward a new security agreement with Europe as part of efforts connected to the war negotiations. That context does not establish that Washington endorsed Drobinin’s specific ideas or that Russia’s remarks were formally submitted to NATO.

What remains unresolved

Drobinin’s outline did not include draft treaty language, named NATO countries, or a timetable. The statements also leave open how any bilateral guarantees would relate to NATO’s collective defense commitments. No agreement was announced, and the parties have not reported a settlement on the broader security questions.

For background on the negotiations, see how the Abu Dhabi talks included separate consultations with European officials.

Sources

Reuters report, republished by Internazionale: Russian diplomat says Moscow could conclude non-aggression pacts with NATO member states; Associated Press: Russia and Ukraine agree to a large prisoner exchange as talks end with no major breakthrough; Axios: U.S. asks Russia to propose new security agreement with Europe.