Diplomacy : Putin remains clear on Ukraine conflict – New talks
Kiev/Moscow Putin remains clear in his comments: in his view, Ukraine must not become a NATO member – otherwise the risk of war increases. The next diplomatic talks are on the horizon.
In the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, diplomatic efforts to ease tensions enter the next round. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to speak by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
The talks were initially scheduled for Monday, but initially did not materialize due to Johnson’s domestic political problems. Meanwhile, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has planned a visit to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Selenskyj. Johnson was already a guest there on Tuesday.
With a massive Russian troop buildup near Ukraine, there are fears in the West that Russia is planning an invasion of its neighboring country. The Kremlin denies the. It is also considered possible that fears are to be stirred up in order to persuade the NATO states to make concessions with regard to security guarantees. Moscow has addressed a corresponding list of demands to NATO and the U.S., including an end to NATO’s eastward expansion. Both reject Russia’s core concerns but have offered dialogue in written responses.
Putin warns of threat of war
Putin warned Tuesday of a threat of war in Europe if Ukraine becomes a member of NATO. He also criticized the dismissive attitude toward Russian demands. But the written answers of the USA and Nato would be checked. "I hope that in the end we will find a solution. Even if it is not easy. We are aware of this," the Kremlin leader said.
During his visit to Kiev on Tuesday, British Prime Minister Johnson stressed that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would be a political, humanitarian and military disaster. He threatened that Britain and its allies had prepared tough sanctions against Russia. These would come into effect as soon as "the first Russian shoe tip" enters Ukrainian territory.
Weapons supply debate
The future chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, has called for Germany to make a stronger military contribution in the conflict – for example, by supplying weapons to defend itself. "If the Ukrainians turn to Germany today seeking help, we should support them with defensive weapons," Heusgen told the newspapers of Funke Mediengruppe and the French newspaper "Ouest-France".
Although Germany traditionally applies the rule of not supplying military equipment to conflict regions. But: "In addition to our restraint, we must also remember that during World War II German security forces committed massacres of Jewish Ukrainians," said the longtime foreign policy adviser to former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU).
"The conflict is too complex for weapons deliveries alone to solve it," CSU Secretary General Markus Blume told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. There is a need for an overall concept that follows two maxims: to remain in dialogue and to point out clear consequences in case the territorial integrity of Ukraine is not respected. The conflict will also be a topic at the closed meeting of the CSU-Landesgruppe, which starts on Wednesday in Berlin.