Scholz and Macron warn Kremlin: Biden: Understanding Putin is like reading coffee grounds

Scholz and Macron warn Kremlin
Biden: Understanding Putin is like reading coffee grounds

The US President still doubts whether Russia’s President really wants to invade Ukraine. It’s a bit like reading coffee grounds with Putin, says Biden. Still, such a move would change the world. Chancellor Scholz and French President Macron also emphasize this.

A Russian invasion of Ukraine could be the “biggest invasion since World War II,” according to US President Joe Biden, given the massive troop presence near the border. According to US information, Moscow is said to have positioned around 100,000 Russian troops along the Ukrainian border. Referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden said he was “continuing to expand the troop presence along the Ukrainian border.”

Biden literally said: “If he invaded with all these troops, it would be the biggest invasion since World War II. It would change the world.” It was initially not clear whether Biden was referring specifically to Europe with his statement, because significantly more soldiers were deployed in the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. In Afghanistan, on the other hand, the presence of Soviet troops after their invasion in 1979 was given as around 120,000.

“No US soldiers will be transferred to Ukraine”

Moscow has denied plans to invade Ukraine. Biden again warned Russia of drastic sanctions and countermeasures in the event of an attack. At the same time, he stressed that there were no plans to move US troops to Ukraine. “No American forces will be transferred to Ukraine,” Biden said.

Yesterday, the US military put around 8,500 soldiers on increased readiness to enable them to be transferred to Europe at short notice if necessary. “I could move some of these troops at short notice – simply because it takes a certain amount of time,” Biden said. This is not a provocation but a precautionary measure to address the concerns of Eastern European NATO members, he said. When asked, Biden added that it was still unclear whether Putin was actually planning an attack. “I’ll be perfectly honest with you: It’s a bit like reading coffee grounds.”

Macron and Scholz hope for Normandy format

Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French head of state Emmanuel Macron also warned Russia of the serious consequences of further military aggression against Ukraine. The leadership in Moscow must urgently contribute to de-escalation, Scholz demanded in the Berlin Chancellery, where he received the Frenchman for an inaugural visit. Macron said they were preparing a joint response in the event of an attack, warning “the price would be very high.”

Germany and France are united in the conflict, said Macron. He also reiterated that the dialogue with Russia should not be broken off. For the first time since the current tensions began, official representatives of both conflict countries want to meet for talks on Wednesday. A meeting at consultant level is planned in Paris.

France and Germany are also to take part in the meeting in the so-called Normandy format. As it was said from Élysée circles, the talks should deal with humanitarian measures and future considerations in Ukraine. They also want to find a date on which Ukraine will negotiate with the separatists loyal to the Kremlin about a special status for the Donbass region. Ukraine has so far officially rejected this. She sees Moscow and not the separatists as a negotiating partner.

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