Tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain acute. There is still great concern about escalation. The news ticker.
- Russia is gathering large troops on the border with Ukraine. The fear of escalation is growing.
- The longtime Merkel advisor Christoph Heusgen advises the West to take a tough stance on Russia.
- This news ticker is updated regularly.
Kiev / Moscow – The situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border has worried Europe for weeks – even after the announced withdrawal of Russian troops: The designated head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, certifies Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “desire for expansion” – and advises the West to do one tough stance in the Ukraine conflict. Putin * sees the USA and Europe as weakened by the change of government and because of the inglorious end of the Afghanistan mission and is looking for a reason to invade Ukraine, said the former German ambassador to the United Nations Editorial network Germany.
In this case, sanctions would also have to include the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea gas pipeline from Russia to Germany and the exclusion of Russia from the Swift international payment system, Heusgen said. “Putin would interpret a soft reaction as weakness and only stimulate his desire for expansion.” The EPP group leader in the EU Parliament, Manfred Weber, also expressed concern in an interview with the Munich Mercury *.
Last week, Putin expressed his willingness to diplomatically resolve the tensions. Talks with the US are scheduled for January. Moscow is calling for an end to NATO’s eastward expansion, which it sees itself threatened by. In addition, Russia wants to ensure that Ukraine does not receive an offer for NATO membership.
Ukraine crisis: Merkel’s confidante advises tough stance – “Putin lives in his own, nostalgic world”
Heusgen, long-time foreign and security policy advisor to Angela Merkel *, said: “Putin lives in his own nostalgic world in which international law is not a standard.” He glorifies the Soviet Union and even the Stalin regime. “He is striving to restore a Russian empire that is reminiscent of the Soviet Union.” Putin’s claim that NATO had promised not to expand eastwards after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact is “pure propaganda” and has no basis. “Putin knows all of this very well.” The Swedish foreign politician Carl Bildt recently saw Russia * on a “dangerous path”.
In view of the tensions between Russia and NATO, the Defense Ministry in Moscow only warned Western military attachés of the risk of armed conflict on Monday. “Recently, the Alliance has adopted a practice of direct provocation, which poses a high risk of escalating into armed confrontation,” said Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.
Fomin accused NATO of a massive increase in military activities. In 2020 alone, the number of military flights on Russia’s borders rose from 436 to 710. Every year NATO also holds 30 major maneuvers with battle scenarios against Russia. Fomin said Russia would be ready to talk on an equal footing at any time. At the same time, he criticized the fact that NATO had for years rejected every offer of talks from Moscow and preferred confrontation.
Russia criticizes NATO – USA is barely able to resolve international conflicts
Russia has told NATO that since the collapse of the Soviet Union 30 years ago, military bases and weapon systems were moving ever closer to Russia. In Eastern Europe alone, 13,000 soldiers from NATO countries, including 200 tanks and 30 planes and helicopters, are now permanently stationed.
Heusgen warned that the United States is currently barely able to resolve international conflicts because of a deep division in its society and major domestic political reforms. The education and health systems have to be reformed, climate change poses huge problems for the country, and parts of the infrastructure are ailing. At the same time, the Republicans of ex-President Donald Trump lurked in the background, shaking the very foundations of American democracy. “Against this background, it is understandable that Biden can only pay very limited attention to foreign policy.” (dpa / aka) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
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