Amid the expectation of a possible negotiated solution to the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a virtual meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on January 28 in which he showed his disagreement. Putin stressed that the United States and NATO did not respond to his de-escalation security demands aimed at redesigning post-Cold War security arrangements in Eastern Europe.
After the telephone meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin, “the ball remains in Russia’s court,” assured the Elysee, regarding choosing the diplomatic or military route due to the latent tension on Ukraine’s borders.
“It is Vladimir Putin who must say whether he wants consultations or confrontation,” said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at the conclusion of the meeting between Putin and Macron, who has entered as a mediator in a possible conflict that threatens consequences for the entire European Union.
A Kremlin statement stressed that during the call, which lasted more than an hour, Putin made it clear that the answers given by the United States and NATO last Wednesday, January 26, do not reassure him because they do not address his security demands in Europe. from the east.
However, the two leaders left the door open to continue the dialogue on issues related to security in Europe.
The Russian president indicated that he would study in detail the proposals, which Washington and the Atlantic Alliance offered him in return, before considering any next step, Russian state news agencies said.
Since last December 17, Moscow delivered a list of demands, focused on the withdrawal of NATO forces to the place where they were stationed in 1997, before ex-Soviet republics such as Bulgaria and Romania joined the military organization.
As concrete demands, the following stand out: the prohibition of Ukraine joining NATO; the end of the activity of the military alliance in Eastern Europe, including the Ukrainian territory, the Caucasus and Central Asia and the commitment that neither Washington nor Moscow deploy short or medium range missiles outside their territories.
But unsurprisingly, the US and the military alliance firmly rejected any concessions, refusing to permanently ban Ukraine from joining NATO and saying the deployment of allied troops and military equipment to Eastern Europe is non-negotiable.
The West is also asking Putin for proof that he would not attack its neighboring country, which has seen an exponential increase in Russian soldiers and weapons along its borders in the past year. About 100,000 troops, according to Kiev estimates.
Biden says Russia would attack Ukraine in February; Moscow softens the tone
Russia affirms that it wants peace with Ukraine, but “puts its weapons on the table”, explained this January 28 the United States ambassador in Moscow, John Sullivan, the point at which the negotiations between the West and the Kremlin would be found.
“It is the equivalent of if you and I were discussing or negotiating. If I put a weapon on the table and say that I come in peace, that is a threat (…) And that is what we see now,” Sullivan emphasized.
His statements came after the White House reported that President Joe Biden warned his Ukrainian counterpart Volodímir Zelensky that Moscow would attack next February, although the Kremlin affirms that an eventual war will not depend on his government.
“President Biden said there is a distinct possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February,” said Emily Horne, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council.
Joe Biden has warned Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky that an invasion by Russian forces in February is a “distinct possibility” despite ongoing diplomatic talks. Follow Newsweek’s live blog for all the latest. https://t.co/XAVRpxkpwR
—Newsweek (@Newsweek) January 28, 2022
Biden warned Zelensky that his administration believes there was a high probability that Moscow could invade when the ground froze and Russian forces could attack Ukrainian territory from north of Kiev, according to two sources familiar with the conversation between the leaders. , who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Military experts have indicated that Russia may be waiting for optimal ground conditions to move heavy equipment into Kiev as part of any invasion. Eight years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in late February.
In a briefing, Sullivan described the Russian troop buildup on Ukraine’s borders as “extraordinary” and said it cannot be just ordinary military exercises, as Vladimir Putin’s government insists.
Russia: “We don’t want wars”
Despite the accusations, Moscow softened its tone this Friday, January 28. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov tried to distance his government from any intention of taking military action.
“If it depends on Russia, then there will be no war. We don’t want wars. But neither will we allow our interests to be rudely trampled on, to be ignored,” Lavrov said in an interview with local radio.
Lavrov asserted that Washington and NATO are ignoring Russia’s interests, but that at least there was “something” in the written responses sent.
In the document delivered, and agreed between Ukraine, the US, NATO and the rest of the European allies, they describe a potential progress in terms of arms control, transparency and stability, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Without referring specifically to the offers in which his government can reach agreements, the Russian foreign minister pointed out that the United States’ counterproposals were better than those of NATO. He added that his government is evaluating them and the Russian president will determine how to respond.
These are the most conciliatory comments so far made by Moscow on the crisis with its former ally from the former Soviet Union.
All eyes are now on Putin, who will decide how Russia will respond amid fears that Europe could plunge back into one of the most tense standoffs between the West and Moscow since the Cold War ended three decades ago.
With Reuters, AP and local media