The situation in the Ukraine conflict has deteriorated further in recent days. Now there should be a summit meeting between the USA and Russia. Is there a solution?
In recent weeks, French President Emmauel Macron has proven to be the NATO representative who is actively trying to mediate between Russia and the western allies. Now he may have succeeded in calming the waves in the Ukraine conflict at least somewhat. Macron had proposed a summit meeting. According to the Elysée Palace in Paris, US President Joe Biden and his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin have “in principle” agreed to this. The meeting “can only take place if Russia does not invade Ukraine,” said the Elysée on Monday night after Macron had previously telephoned the two leaders.
Shortly thereafter, Biden’s press secretary, Jen Psaki, declared that the US was “obligated to continue diplomacy until the commencement of an invasion.” Biden “agreed in principle to meet with President Putin … if there is no invasion”. A senior US government official told AFP: “The timing is yet to be determined. The format is yet to be determined, so it’s all fictional.”
According to France, the meeting between the presidents of the USA and Russia will be prepared by the respective foreign ministers, Antony Blinken and Sergey Lavrov, at their meeting on Thursday. Lavrov is scheduled to meet his French colleague Jean-Yves Le Drian on Monday. Accordingly, following the direct talks between Biden and Putin, Macron proposed a summit meeting “with all relevant interest groups” in the conflict. It should be about “security and strategic stability in Europe”.
Ceasefire in Ukraine?
Macron spoke to Putin twice on Sunday. According to the Kremlin, during the first phone call, Macron and Putin agreed to “facilitate the restoration of the ceasefire and ensure progress in resolving the conflict.” In the conversation, Putin also denounced “provocations” by the Ukrainian army. Macron then spoke to Biden before calling Putin again in the evening.
Moscow states that it feels threatened by NATO’s eastward expansion and, according to Western information, has gathered around 150,000 soldiers on the border with Ukraine. Including the troops of the pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine, there could be up to 190,000 soldiers. However, Moscow denies any attack plans.
The announcement from Moscow that it would withdraw its estimated 30,000 soldiers from neighboring Belarus was seen as a possible sign of relaxation. However, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said that President Alexander Lukashenko and Putin had decided to continue their joint military maneuvers in view of the “escalation” of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
This representation “does not correspond to the statements made by President Putin,” said the Elysée Palace after Macron’s first phone call with the Kremlin boss. The latter announced his intention to withdraw his troops from Belarus after the ongoing military exercises had been completed.
Shots, grenades and local residents hiding in eastern Ukraine
In her statement, Biden’s spokeswoman Psaki warned that the US remains ready to impose “swift and severe consequences” if Russia invades. “And right now, Russia seems to be continuing preparations for an imminent major attack on Ukraine,” Psaki reiterated.
Meanwhile, violence continued to escalate in eastern Ukraine. According to Ukrainian sources, two Ukrainian soldiers died as a result of grenade fire on Saturday. AFP journalists heard more explosions at the front between separatists and government troops during the night. In one village they saw residents hiding in an earthen cellar.
US satellite imaging company Maxar reported more Russian troop movements near the Ukrainian border. Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Moscow warned US citizens of possible attacks in public places in Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also called for the resumption of ceasefire negotiations led by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). At the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyi offered Putin a meeting. However, he also opposed an “appeasement policy” to appease the Russian side and again called for clear prospects for Ukraine to join NATO.
Source: Stern
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