A new framework to try to defuse the crisis around Ukraine? The United States is calling for a public meeting of the UN Security Council, of which Russia is a permanent member, on Monday. “More than 100,000 Russian troops are deployed on the Ukrainian border and Russia is engaging in other acts of destabilization targeting Ukraine, which constitutes a clear threat to international peace and security and the Charter of the United Nations”justified, Thursday evening, the American ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Members must “consider what is at stake for Ukraine, for Russia, for Europe and for the obligations and fundamental principles of the international order if Russia invades Ukraine further”she specifies, implicitly alluding to the Crimea annexed in 2014 by Russia.
Originally, the United States had hoped to be able to hold this meeting of the Security Council on Friday, according to diplomats. But, according to these sources, they agreed to postpone it to Monday so as not to interfere with a telephone conversation scheduled for Friday between the French and Russian presidents, Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Poutine.
Rejection of Moscow’s demands
Tensions have steadily risen in recent months. Washington, supported by its Western allies, has been waging a standoff for several weeks with Moscow, which is using Ukraine as a hostage in an attempt to force the United States to withdraw NATO foreign troops from several European countries. East and which categorically opposes Ukraine joining the Atlantic Alliance.
During a meeting between the heads of American and Russian diplomacy last week, it was agreed that Washington would quickly submit a written response to Russian demands. Promise kept. The Americans and the Atlantic Alliance delivered two separate letters to the Russians on Wednesday. For them, there is no question of formally committing never to let Ukraine enter NATO.
The United States and NATO have rejected the end of the Alliance’s enlargement and a return to its military deployments on the 1997 borders, two key demands of Moscow. However, Washington said it was ready to talk again “in the next few days” with Russia. The US government is proposing to relaunch formal negotiations on the “arms control”and to discuss “reciprocal transparency measures” on the “military postures” and “military exercises” in Europe.
New meetings to come
The United States also reiterated Western warnings of an unprecedented response against Russia in the event of an invasion of the neighboring country. Washington also assured that the “strong penalties” being prepared included the blocking of Nord Stream 2, this controversial gas pipeline between Russia and Germany which is still awaiting commissioning.
The American response to the “main” Moscow’s claim is not “not positive”, estimated the head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, in return. Mays “there is a reaction that gives hope for the start of a serious conversation on secondary issues”he continued.
A new round of trading is scheduled for early February. “The good news is that the advisers have agreed to meet in Berlin in two weeks, which means that at least for the next two weeks Russia is likely to stay on a diplomatic track”said Thursday the head of Ukrainian diplomacy Dmytro Kouleba.