OREANDA-NEWS. Moscow does not even intend to discuss Washington's demands for Russian troops to "go to the barracks". This was stated by the country's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, his words are quoted by RIA Novosti.

The minister noted that the United States has already begun to demand from the Russian Federation not only to withdraw its troops from the border with Ukraine, but even “send them to the barracks.”

“Sherman [U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman] said exactly that, including publicly at a press conference. I don’t think there is a need to explain the absolute unacceptability of such requirements,” Lavrov said.

Earlier, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said that the concentration of Russian troops near the border with Ukraine could result in a conflict. Sherman argues that Russia "concentrated these forces to put pressure on Europe and the United States, on Euro-Atlantic ambitions, to intimidate."

Sherman argues that Russia "concentrated these forces to put pressure on Europe and the United States, on Euro-Atlantic ambitions, to intimidate."

“This is a provocative step leading to an escalation of tension and causing great concern. Without a doubt, this can lead to conflict,” Sherman said.

Earlier, the first deputy secretary of state of the United States said that the United States and NATO allies threatened Russia with "consequences" in the event of an aggravation of the crisis over Ukraine.

The meeting of the Russia-NATO Council was held on January 12 at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels and lasted about four hours. This is the first meeting of the council in 2.5 years, initiated by the Russian side, and organized as a follow-up to the talks on security guarantees between Russia and the United States, held January 9-10 in Geneva.