Russia on Thursday, February 3, urged the United States to “stop fueling tensions” in the Russian-Western crisis around Ukraine. This request is made the day after the American decision to send 3,000 additional soldiers to Eastern Europe.
“Russia’s concern is clear and perfectly justified”since these are “Americans sent to European countries”said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The day before, Russian diplomacy had judged “unjustified” and “destructive” the announcement of the dispatch of these reinforcements, which “reduce the field for political decisions”.
These reinforcements, which are added to the 8,500 soldiers placed on alert last month for a possible deployment on European soil, will be sent to Poland, Germany and Romania, said the Department of American defence. The objective is to ” reassure [les] NATO allies » (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and send a strong signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, justified Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.
Russians and Westerners are engaged in multiple formats of diplomatic discussions. Each camp displays the objective of a de-escalation, but also a desire not to yield anything on its positions of principle.
“Indivisibility of Security”
Moscow has deployed tens of thousands of men for months on the borders of Ukraine, which, for the West, is the sign of a major military operation. Russia denies. The Kremlin says in return that NATO threatens the security of Russia and demands, to reduce tensions, the end of the policy of enlargement of the Alliance and its withdrawal from Eastern Europe. What Europeans and Americans refuse.
Washington proposes that the rivals undertake not to deploy offensive military means in Ukraine, that Moscow inspects certain military infrastructures which worry it in Europe, and that the two countries agree on arms control measures.
The United States also says it is ready to discuss the“Indivisibility of Security”. The Kremlin bases itself on this concept to demand a retreat of NATO from its neighborhood, arguing that the security of some cannot be achieved at the expense of that of others, despite the right of each State, and therefore of the Ukraine, to choose its alliances.
Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are planning to come to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin has confirmed discussions to this effect.