Thursday, December 23, 2021
Russian troops in front of Ukraine
Ambassador thinks major attack is unlikely
The concentration of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border is causing uncertainty. However, the German ambassador to Ukraine does not fear an invasion. The warnings from the EU had arrived in Moscow. Meanwhile, Russia’s EU ambassador is trying to allay concerns.
The German ambassador to Ukraine, Anka Feldhusen, believes that a large-scale attack by Russia on the country is unlikely. Clear words from European politicians and early coordination would have sent the right signals in the direction of Moscow, Feldhusen wrote in an email to German citizens living in Ukraine. “In the past few weeks we have not been able to detect any significant increase in troops near the Russian border with Ukraine. In this respect, I still consider the likelihood of a broad attack by Russia to be low.”
But the diplomat also emphasized: “Like all our partners, we also take and I take the Russian approach very seriously.” In this situation, “calm and prudence, but also mindfulness” must be shown, as the new federal government shows. Reports of alleged Russian preparations for an invasion of Ukraine have been causing international concern for weeks.
Russia’s EU ambassador, Vladimir Chizhov, tried to allay the concerns in the “world”: “I can assure you that no Russian troops are busy preparing for an invasion of Ukraine,” he told the newspaper. He does not understand why Europe is so concerned about Russian troop movements that are taking place on Russia’s own territory. “Not a single Russian soldier has moved across the Russian border,” said Chichow. Russia is pursuing a policy that supports Russian-speaking population groups who live in other countries. “But Russia has never said that we intend to use military means for this,” stressed Chizhov according to “Welt”.
Stoltenberg: no waiver by NATO
According to the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, it is now about tens of thousands of soldiers that Russia has drawn together near Ukraine. “It is a major military build-up and there is no sign of this march stopping or slowing down,” he said. In an interview with the German Press Agency, Stoltenberg called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to use the upcoming holidays to withdraw his armed forces from the Ukrainian border. Russia has the opportunity to ensure a peaceful and relaxing Christmas for everyone, he said.
The Norwegian left it open as to whether he suspected that the troop movements were primarily an attempt by Russia to extort concessions from NATO on security issues. “There is uncertainty about Russia’s intentions,” he said. Stoltenberg pointed out that Russia had already used violence against Ukraine in the course of the annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. With a view to the Russian demands for additional security guarantees from NATO, he was ready to talk – but rejected ideas that NATO could, for example, not accept the Ukraine. “We are ready to sit down and talk to Russia in the NATO-Russia Council. However, we will not compromise on basic principles.”
Last week Russia submitted proposals to NATO, the US and their allies for an agreement to end NATO’s eastward expansion. According to the Kremlin, negotiations with the USA will begin in January.