Friday, January 07, 2022
“Real” risk of conflict
NATO: Russia threatens security in Europe
In the conflict over Ukraine, the European foreign ministers are counting on unity – also in contrast to the USA. NATO chief Stoltenberg is ready to enter into a dialogue with Russia, but is also preparing for diplomatic efforts to fail.
After a crisis meeting of NATO foreign ministers, the Secretary General of the Defense Alliance warned of a “real” risk of a renewed Russian invasion of Ukraine. “The risk of conflict is real,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg after a video conference with NATO foreign ministers. “Russia’s aggressive actions seriously undermine the security order in Europe,” he added.
NATO will take part in “a sincere and fundamental dialogue” with Russia, but “we must be prepared for the possibility of diplomacy failing,” Stoltenberg said. At the same time, he assured that the USA would not make any decisions about European security without Europe being at the negotiating table.
The ministers had emphasized that any further aggression by Russia against Ukraine would have significant consequences and a high price for Russia, said Stoltenberg. This included economic sanctions, among other things. The ministers’ video conference was scheduled at short notice.
Strengthening the European position
According to a European diplomat, the aim of the video conference was to find a common position on how to deal with Russia in the Ukraine conflict. “The purpose of the meeting is twofold: to remain united and to ensure that Europeans are involved in the discussions about security in the European area,” he said before the meeting.
A massive Russian troop deployment on the Ukrainian border has been fueling fears of a Russian invasion of the neighboring state for weeks. According to Stoltenberg, Russia is currently continuing its military reinforcement in the Ukraine area. Moscow denies any plans to attack and is demanding an agreement from the USA and NATO that prohibits the eastward expansion of the military alliance.
Government representatives from the USA and Russia want to speak about the crisis in Geneva from Monday. Talks between Russia and NATO will follow on Wednesday, and a meeting is planned for Thursday within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) with Ukraine and Georgia. The EU defense and foreign ministers wanted to meet on Thursday and Friday in Brest, western France. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also wanted to attend the meeting.
Alluding to the upcoming meeting, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said: “It is clear to us that dialogue must take place on the basis of the core principles of the European security order.” They have now agreed on the upcoming dialogue formats with Russia.
Russia has “a lot to lose”
Stoltenberg said nobody knows whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will invade Ukraine. He added that Russia “has a great deal to lose in a conflict”. Moscow wants to “restore its sphere of influence over the countries in its neighborhood,” he continued. “It tries to push back NATO and wants to prevent an expansion of the Western defense alliance to include Ukraine and Georgia, and even Finland and Sweden.” But through its “aggressiveness” Russia provokes exactly “what it wants to prevent,” said Stoltenberg.
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson consulted Stoltenberg to be included in NATO’s talks on Ukraine and security in Europe. The positions within the alliance diverge. Turkey speaks openly about the need for a partnership with Russia, and Hungary makes no secret of its pro-Russian stance. The Central European countries, however, are hostile to negotiations with Moscow. They are surprised at the actions of the USA: “Sometimes we have the impression that we don’t really know what Washington’s goal is,” said an Eastern European diplomat.