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WASHINGTON/MOSCOW/KIEV (dpa-AFX) – In the extremely tense situation surrounding the Ukraine conflict, a series of diplomatic talks at the highest level did not bring any breakthrough. With a view to US warnings of a possibly imminent Russian attack on the neighboring country, the Kremlin spoke of “provocative speculation” and “hysteria” over the weekend. Both US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron called on Putin to de-escalate and warned of serious consequences in the event of Russian aggression. At the beginning of the week, Chancellor Olaf Scholz also wants to campaign for a peaceful solution when he travels to Kiev and Moscow.
The federal government assesses the situation in the Ukraine crisis as “extremely dangerous”. The “very worrying overall picture” will significantly shape the talks with Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyj and Putin on Monday and Tuesday, according to government circles. In addition, the Ukraine was given the prospect of further armaments aid – below the threshold of lethal weapons.
Diplomatic efforts took place at many levels over the weekend. According to lysekreisen, Macron also phoned Scholz and Zelenskyj. Biden and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also exchanged telephone calls with Zelenskyj. However, in view of the lack of breakthroughs, the French media, for example, were disillusioned. The newspaper Le Parisien, for example, wrote of a “rush of phone calls” that failed to ease the tension.
In view of the deployment of tens of thousands of Russian soldiers on the border with Ukraine, the US government warned last Friday that Russia could possibly attack the neighboring country before the end of the Winter Olympics on February 20. The Kremlin vehemently denies such allegations. It is also considered possible that the Kremlin wants to create a threatening environment in order to enforce its own security requirements. For example, Moscow is demanding an end to NATO’s eastward expansion and a waiver of Ukraine’s possible inclusion in the western military alliance.
According to Moscow sources, in his talks with Biden on Saturday, Putin complained that western states were not putting the necessary pressure on Ukraine to fulfill its obligations under a peace plan for eastern Ukraine. To Moscow’s annoyance, Kiev has so far refused to conduct direct negotiations with the pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country – for example with regard to the planned elections for the breakaway areas.
According to the White House, Biden stressed in the call with Putin that an invasion would “cause great human suffering and tarnish Russia’s reputation”. The result would be a resolute reaction from the United States and its allies, which would have serious consequences for Moscow. The US is still ready for diplomatic talks, but “just as prepared for other scenarios”.
The US government has been warning of a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine for weeks with increasing drama. Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told CNN on Sunday that Russian troop buildup had accelerated in the past 10 days or so, and Russian forces were moving closer to the border with Ukraine, from where they could very quickly launch a militia traction. It is very likely “that there will be a major military action very soon”. The “New York Times” wrote that the United States had intelligence information that Russia was discussing next Wednesday (February 16) as a target date for a military traction. But it could also be that this date is part of a disinformation campaign by Russia.
Even the Ukrainian President Selenskyj was irritated by the alarming statements from Washington. “If you or anyone else has additional information about a 100 percent invasion on the 16th (February), please provide us with that information,” he said. Kiev is aware that there are risks. Nevertheless, there are too many reports in the public space about a major war between Russia and Ukraine. “The enemy’s best friend is panic in our country,” said Zelenskyy.
Nevertheless, concerns about a military escalation are also growing in Europe. Numerous European countries called on their citizens to leave Ukraine at the weekend – including Germany. Great Britain, Australia and the USA, among others, had previously done so. The US State Department announced that it would also reduce the staff at its embassy in Kiev “to an absolute minimum”. In addition, the US military is withdrawing from Ukraine because of forces who were there for training purposes. Other states are also downsizing their embassy presence in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Poland is gearing up for the possible reception of refugees from neighboring Ukraine.
The observer mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is also affected by the US call to leave Ukraine. A spokesman for the US State Department said that last week’s travel advice for American citizens also applies to US staff on the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. However, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid emphasized in a tweet that the observers are continuing their mission in Ukraine. Hundreds of OSCE international observers have been stationed in Ukraine since March 2014. They are said to be monitoring the ceasefire agreed between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian soldiers, especially in eastern Ukraine./haw/DP/he