Russian EU ambassador Vladimir Chischov denies US warnings that Russian troops could invade neighboring Ukraine on Wednesday. “As far as Russia is concerned, I can assure you that there will be no attack this Wednesday. There will also be no escalation in the next week, neither in the week after that, or in the next month.”
Chischov told Die Welt on Wednesday. He added: “Wars in Europe rarely start on a Wednesday.”
According to the United States, recent Russian maneuvers and the presence of tens of thousands of soldiers along the Ukrainian border point to an imminent attack. US President Joe Biden even speaks of 150,000 troops in the vicinity of Ukraine and Belarus. Chischov contradicts this: “When you make accusations (…), you also have a responsibility to provide evidence. Otherwise it is slander. So where is the proof?”
The EU ambassador once again urged the West to take Russia’s security concerns seriously. Russia has indicated to NATO that it wants legally binding guarantees from the West for the security of the country. This includes a guarantee that Ukraine will not be admitted to NATO and that no weapon systems, such as a US missile defense system, will be stationed near the border with Russia.
NATO summit
NATO defense ministers will meet on Wednesday to discuss the heated conflict with Russia. NATO cannot meet Russia’s demands, but there is still room for negotiation, estimates a high-ranking source in the alliance.
In any case, the threatening Russian maneuvers of recent weeks have prompted the Western military alliance to strengthen its southeastern flank. Should Russia overrun Ukraine, the Russian army will suddenly be on the doorstep of Romania and Bulgaria. That is why NATO wants to deploy troops there, as before in the Baltic countries and Poland that already border Russia.
But the alliance remains hopeful that Moscow will be satisfied with the outreach that has already been made on things such as mutual openness and arms control. Those proposals have not yet been fully worked out and can therefore be deepened and broadened to suit Russia more, NATO chief Stoltenberg hinted earlier.
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