“My concern is great because the words of the Russian president came before troop movements on the border with Ukraine,” Barbock said, adding that this “serious crisis” with Moscow can only be resolved through dialogue.
Against the backdrop of heightened tensions over Ukraine, the Russian president said he would take “appropriate military and technical measures to respond” if the West persisted in what he considered a “very clear aggressive line”.
For the Kremlin, the United States and NATO are strengthening their presence on Russia’s borders by arming and supporting Ukraine politically, conducting exercises and deploying forces in the Black Sea.
Otherwise, the West accuses Moscow of aggressive tendencies after massing tens of thousands of Russian soldiers on the border with Ukraine, part of which Russia has annexed.
The German minister stressed the need to hold a dialogue with the Russian authorities using “their available means.”
“Even if proposals are presented that do not constitute the basis for negotiations, we must engage in dialogue,” she said at a press conference, adding that it was “important to return to the negotiating table” with Moscow within the framework of the Normandy format that brings together Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia.
And she added, “We must also use the opportunities available within the framework of the North Atlantic Council and Russia to engage in dialogue and contribute so that we can prevent a new escalation.”
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