MOSCOW 

Russia proposed to the US the withdrawal of NATO forces from the eastern flank that joined the military alliance after 1997 (Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic) during their talks in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh on Tuesday, a Romanian official claimed.

Cristian Diaconescu, the Romanian president's chief of staff and adviser on defense and national security, told national media outlets on Wednesday that the US delegation rejected Russia's proposal during the first round of bilateral talks.

However, he noted that the situation is fluid and may change over time, raising concerns in some European capitals about the possibility of Washington considering such a concession as part of a larger peace agreement.

“As far as I understand, the situation can change from hour to hour or from day to day,” Diaconescu told Antena3 television.

Moscow has yet to comment on the Romanian official’s claims.