Diplomatic contacts on the Ukrainian side are on a tightrope, with concerns about the risk of ignition growing. However, no one is stepping down, despite assurances that everyone wants dialogue.
The nationalist Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, is in Moscow. and NATO, maintains very close relations with Vladimir Putin, a fact that was described by his opponents as “betrayal”. In his meeting with Vladimir Putin, he argued that no European leader wants war.
Vladimir Putin, for his part, has again attacked the West, especially the United States, accusing them of ignoring security requirements critical to Russia, such as NATO expansion into Ukraine and other former Soviet republics, as well as the withdrawal of NATO troops from Eastern Europe. He made it clear that Moscow would not back down from its position, noting that by refusing to accept Russia's demands, the West was violating its sovereignty and security commitments.
Nevertheless, he added, the solution can be found through dialogue.
Blinken-Lavrov phone call
On Tuesday afternoon, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made a scheduled phone call to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, who reiterated Moscow's insistence on “a frank discussion about why the West refuses to agree. with its obligations “. On the other hand, the American official called on Russia to “immediately de-escalate and withdraw military forces and equipment from the borders of Ukraine”, if it really means that it does not intend to invade Ukraine.
The State Department said in a statement that Anthony Blinken had stressed the US readiness to pursue a “substantial compromise” with Russia on mutual security issues, and reiterated the US commitment to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of and the right of each country to determine its own foreign policy and alliances. “
For this reason, he reaffirmed that “a new invasion of Ukraine will be dealt with with rapid and serious consequences” and called on Russia to “follow the path of diplomacy.”
Britain on the side of Ukraine
In the meantime, on the occasion of Boris Johnson's trip to Kiev, British officials stress the need for a “serious dialogue” in order to defuse the Ukrainian crisis and avoid intimidation, while stressing that “we will stand by Ukraine.”
Boris Johnson and Volodymyr ZelenskyPeter Nicholls / Pool Photo via AP
Diplomatic sources say the violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity is contrary to democratic values and freedoms, adding that “we are not going to clash with Russia but seek a” defensive deterrent “. Our response must be “dynamic”.
They claim, citing the concentration of Russian forces on the border, that there is a “real threat” from the Kremlin, which seeks to impose decisions on Ukraine for its security. “It does not make sense for a third country to indicate what Ukraine will decide to protect its territory,” they said.
Travel instruction for Belarus
Concerns about the possibility of a fire were also confirmed by the US decision to issue a travel directive for Belarus, due to “an increase in unusual and disturbing Russian military activity near the border with Ukraine.”
AP Photo / Alastair Grant, Pool
The State Department issued a recommendation last month against travel to Belarus “due to arbitrary enforcement and the risk of detention” and the COVID-19 pandemic. Also Monday, U.S. diplomacy ordered the families of U.S. government officials serving in Belarus to leave the country, very close to Russia, over tensions with Moscow over Ukraine.
“The situation is unpredictable and tensions are rising in the region,” he said.
Death of a soldier?
In the midst of all this and with the risk of a provocation or a mistake having unintended consequences, information states that a Ukrainian unmanned aircraft caused the death of at least one soldier on the “front” of Eastern Ukraine. The information was transmitted by the self-proclaimed government of Donbas, which has declared itself the Donetsk People's Republic. However, the information has not been confirmed by an independent source.
