Honestly, is there any other way to interpret this?
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko, as reported by the AP:
Moscow wants NATO to listen to its concerns and hold serious discussions on the Kremlin's proposal for an overarching new European security treaty.
Reacting to Rasmussen's remarks, Russia noted "the readiness he declared for stepping up Russia-NATO relations," Nesterenko said in a statement. But he suggested the alliance must do more to earn Russia's trust and remove its concerns.
"We are realists...further prospects for cooperation will depend first of all on the general backdrop of relations with the alliance, the restoration of trust, readiness to take into account Russia's concerns."
It will also hinge on "the vector of NATO's further evolution and the goals and tasks the organization sets for itself"
I understand caution - but I don't think that's the real issue here. I'm simply not convinced that what is being discussed here will ever happen and that each side is merely going through the necessary motions so as to avoid being the roadblock.
Well, NATO hasn't really taken any concrete actions to "improve relations" with Russia. Closing the door to further expansion east could be a good start.
NATO played hardball before, now the tables have turned.
That isn't true - NATO has made lots of steps toward Russia, especially since Fogh Rasmussen took over. I really can't imagine what more you could want the guy to stay after that speech on the 18th - (he talks about "a genuine, new beginning").
http://carnegieeurope.eu/events/?fa=1386
His efforts have been sharply rebuffed. Maybe we can recognize that Russia prefers relations with NATO to not improve, and perhaps that's not such a terrible reality to deal with.
Well, you may think NATO has made a lot of steps, but those steps are clearly nowhere near anything concrete to even begin with.
You are going to need a lot more Kozyrev-styled preemptive concessions from NATO to Russia if relations are to even have a chance to begin to improve.
If NATO doesn't take Russian interests into account, what incentive is there for Russia to even want relations to improve in the first place? Talk is nothing but talk, it's time for that Dane to do something for real.