East European countries have reacted critically to a U.S. proposal that
a handful of North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies could meet with
Russia to discuss its military build-up along Ukraine�s borders.

One government in the region is furious and seeking immediate
clarification on what exactly President Joe Biden is planning,
according to a diplomat from the country who declined to be named
speaking on a confidential issue.

Another diplomat was more specific. The unease among the eastern flank,
where countries that were once dominated by the Soviet Union now find
themselves on the front lines against an aggressive Russia, centers on
just what kind of concessions the talks might lead to in terms of
political guarantees and curbs on NATO�s freedom of movement and its
ability to carry out actions.

�Russia should under no circumstances be given a say in who may or may
not be a member of NATO,� Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said at a
news conference on Thursday. Moscow�s �most worrying wish is to divide
Europe into spheres of influence. We remember these kinds of moments
from our own history and we are in no way naive on this issue.�

Biden has said that he hopes by Friday to announce the meeting, which
will include �at least four of our major NATO allies.� That irritates
the Baltic states because it immediately raises the question of who
will be excluded, mainly the eastern states with the most at stake, in
favor of the Western European allies.

Ukraine aspires to be a member of the military alliance that was formed
in the aftermath of World War II as a bulwark against Communism, though
NATO has given no timeline for accession. Russian President Vladimir
Putin sees any expansion of NATO as a threat and demanded binding
guarantees that it won�t cross his �red lines.� The alliance itself has
suffered from a loss of prestige.

White House officials have repeatedly said -- before and after Biden�s
call with Putin on Tuesday -- that Russia will have no say on NATO�s
expansion. �The president told Putin in their call: One nation can�t
force another nation to change its border, one nation cannot tell
another to change its politics, and nations can�t tell others who they
can work -- who they can work with,� Principal Deputy Press Secretary
Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday.

Biden in a Bind
Biden will no doubt tread carefully in promising Putin anything. The
subject of the meeting, he has said, is �whether or not we can work out
any accommodation as it relates to bringing down the temperature along
the eastern front.�

The consternation among eastern European allies emerged on the same day
Biden opened a virtual �summit for democracy,� intended to highlight
and strengthen ties between the world�s democratically elected
governments. The president is trying to show a degree of toughness in
the face of Russian aggression yet some in NATO see his latest overture
to Russia as a diplomatic concession.

In the aftermath of the chaotic exit from Afghanistan in August, when
the U.S. clearly signalled it has little appetite for foreign wars, the
challenge for an administration still in its first year is to indicate
it will act if red lines, which Putin likes to test, are crossed.

Why Russia-Ukraine Tensions Are So Hard to Defuse: QuickTake

Biden will call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy later on
Thursday and will then call leaders of the so-called Bucharest 9 group
of eastern flank allies to give them a download on his Dec. 7 call with
Putin.

Eastern European nations have long been distrustful of Russia, a
sentiment exacerbated by most decisions about their region being taken
over their heads. They insist it is not up to Russia or any other non-
member to influence who is picked to join NATO, one of the diplomats
said. All the eastern flank countries are worried about the offer, with
the Baltic states, Poland and Romania the most concerned, the official
added.

The talks could give Putin a chance to divide and rule, driving a wedge
between the U.S. and Europe, or even between European members,
officials said, with one describing him as a great opportunist. Another
said governments need to wait for more details on the proposed talks.

�Taking Advantage�
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, asked about Biden�s call with
Putin, told reporters during a visit to Rome that Moscow was exploiting
a difficult time for NATO. �I believe that after the pullout from
Afghanistan, the situation in NATO is tense, it�s difficult and also,
unfortunately, our adversaries, foes and Russia is one of them are
taking advantage of the situation,� he said.

Biden�s proposal was a disappointing surprise, according to Marko
Mihkelson, chair of the Estonian parliament�s Foreign Affairs
Committee. He called for a diplomatic push to block such a meeting from
taking place and at the very least, to expand the meeting to include
members of NATO�s eastern flank. Any talks should only relate to
ensuring the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the removal of
Russian military threats, he said.

Initiating talks at gunpoint over NATO�s future, or over involving
Russia as a participant with a right of veto on Europe�s security
architecture is completely wrong and a road to inciting new aggression,
he added.

Talking to Russia is part of NATO�s dual-track policy toward the
country, based on deterrence and dialog, said a NATO official. Any
decision on future membership is a decision for only the alliance�s 30
members to make, the official said, adding that consultations are under
way among them.

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Let's go Brandon!