NATO is the obstacle to improving Russian-Western relations

... of the distinctive features of the modern Western political narrative with regard to NATO is an almost total misunderstanding of how the alliance is perceived in Russia... ... influence and U.S. defense assurances. That is why Russia is utterly baffled by U.S. accusations that the Kremlin — and President Vladimir Putin specifically — are trying to “drive a wedge between NATO partners... ... intention of accommodating Russian interests even on the most fundamental national security issues, including the protection of territorial integrity and the fight against...