RUSSIA'S last stand against the eastward expansion of NATO appeared to have finally crumbled yesterday as the chief negotiators of both sides slapped each other on the back claiming that history had been made and a victory achieved by all.
Exactly what compromise had been reached in two days of talks was not clear, still less the disputed name and status of the document which to be formally approved by President Yeltsin and the heads of government of the 16 NATO member states.
The Russian Foreign Minister, Mr Yevgeny Primakov, was unusually generous about his main sparring partner, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Javier Solana, praising him as "very tough". He said: "It is a big victory for reason, it is a big victory for the world community and it is a big victory for Russia and all governments in the world interested in peace and cooperation."
An equally ebullient Mr Solana said the way was clear for a formal signing ceremony in Paris on May 27th. Mr Primakov was more cautious about the date that had caused NATO so much trouble, saying the document still had to be approved by Mr Yeltsin, even though he took part in yesterday's events by telephoning Mr Solana directly.
A joint communique released after the sixth round of talks said: "Decisive progress was reached on the key issues of the NATO Russia document."
No sooner was news of the breakthrough out than both Germany and France issued statements claiming a decisive role in the process. Germany's publicity conscious Foreign Minister, Mr Klaus Kinkel, said: "Solana's persistent negotiations as well as my countless talks with Primakov have paid off."
A French Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mr Jacques Rummelhardt, reaffirmed French willingness to host a ceremony in Paris on May 27th. He singled out France and Germany's role in the negotiations, but particularly France's: "France, which was at the origin of these ideas, is particularly pleased."
Washington was noticeably more reticent, claiming ignorance of the deal as a pretext for a cautious initial response. A US official said: "He [Solana] left Moscow and we didn't have a chance to talk to him, so we don't know the substance.
The difference in the reaction of main NATO players is an indication that Russia drove a hard bargain, exacting concessions that the foreign policy hawks in Washington were reluctant to give.
The final stumbling block to an agreement was Russia's insistence about troop numbers and movements in the new member countries and what guarantees could be formally enshrined in an internationally binding document.
NATO's room for manoeuvre was limited by the concern not to consign the new member states to the status of second class members. Mr Yeltsin was under severe pressure not to sign the agreement if Russia's security concerns were not met.
Poland, one of three states which will be offered membership in the Madrid NATO summit in July, reacted warmly to the deal last night. (Guardian Service)