Moscow is seeking separate security agreements with NATO members as peace talks over Ukraine stall, raising concerns about Russia’s attempts to weaken European unity. Russia's proposal to negotiate separate security agreements with NATO members is “a pretty clear divide-and-conquer method,” an analyst has warned. Peter Dickinson, editor of the Atlantic Council’s UkraineAlert online publication, told TVP World’s News in Depth program that Moscow was trying to undermine confidence in NATO’s collective defense guarantees. “He's essentially signaling that NATO is not enough anymore,” Dickinson said. Moscow seeks to reshape Europe The proposals emerged as US-mediated peace talks in Abu Dhabi ended without progress on a ceasefire or territorial disputes, although negotiators agreed in principle to an exchange of prisoners. Dickinson argued that Vladimir Putin was attempting to broaden negotiations beyond Ukraine, reviving Russia’s 2021 demands to roll back NATO’s military presence in Eastern Europe. Asked whether the talks had brought peace any closer, he replied: “No, frankly none whatsoever.” NATO unity under pressure Dickinson said Moscow hoped individual countries might accept bilateral non-aggression agreements, raising doubts about NATO’s reliability. However, he considered such deals highly unlikely, particularly among countries concerned about Russian aggression. He urged NATO members to respond firmly and reaffirm their commitment to collective defense, adding: “Nato is still as strong as ever.”
