Russian President Vladimir Putin stated Tuesday that he welcomes a security dialogue between the West and Russia. His military reported that it had pulled back some troops from Ukraine. However, U.S. President Joe Biden stated that Russia’s claims were not confirmed by the U.S. and that there was still the possibility of an invasion.
Putin stated that he doesn’t want war and would use negotiations to end any possibility of Ukraine joining NATO. He also said that Russia would not withdraw all its troops from the standoff, but that it will be dependent on the outcome of the situation.
Biden made remarks at the White House and promised that the U.S. would give diplomatic support “every opportunity” to stop a Russian invasion. However, he was skeptical about Moscow’s intentions. Biden stressed that the U.S. would not “sacrifice fundamental principles” in respect to Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Biden stated that “two paths are still open.” “But let’s not forget: Russia will be punished if it invades Ukraine. Responsible nations around the globe will not hesitate to take action. We will pay a much higher price tomorrow if we don’t stand up for freedom in places that are at risk.
Putin’s gestures have calmed markets, which were already on edge due to the worst East-West tensions for decades. Washington and its European allies were cautious. They said they wanted to see evidence that Russia is withdrawing. Biden stated that 150,000 Russian forces were now positioned near Ukraine and Belarus, an increase over the earlier estimate of 130,000 U.S. troops.
Biden stated that Russia’s claims that it had pulled back troops was “good”, but that they have not yet confirmed that. “Indeed our analysts indicate they remain in a very threatening position.”
NATO and the U.S. continue to warn Russia that Russia could invade any moment. NATO has sent troops and military supplies in support of allies in Eastern Europe. Russia denies having such plans. Russia wants the West not to include Ukraine and other ex Soviet nations in the alliance. It also wants the West stop weapons deployments near Russian borders.
These demands were strongly rejected by the U.S. and its allies, but Russia offered to negotiate with them on ways to strengthen security in Europe.
After meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Putin stated that the West had agreed to talk about a ban on European missile deployments, restrictions on military drills, and other confidence-building measures. These are issues Moscow brought up years ago.
He stated that Russia was open to discussing “some of these elements”, but that Russia would only do so in conjunction with the “main issues that are primary for us.”
Putin was asked if there might be a European war. He said Russia didn’t want it, but that Ukraine’s attempt to join NATO presented a significant security threat to his country.
Scholz stated again that NATO’s eastward expansion was not on their agenda, but Putin countered that such assurances would not satisfy Moscow.
Putin stated, “They are telling me it won’t happen tomorrow.” “When will it happen?” Tomorrow? What does this mean for us historically? Nothing.”
Scholz stated that diplomatic options are not exhausted and also praised the announcement about troop withdrawal as a positive signal, adding: “We hope more will follow.”
Russian Defense Ministry published images showing howitzers and tanks rolling onto railway platforms, and other tanks rolling across snowy terrain. The Russian Defense Ministry did not reveal where, when, or whereabouts the images were taken.
Biden acknowledged that it is possible that Russia sanctions in retaliation to an invasion will have significant negative effects on America’s economy. This could include price increases and disruptions to its energy supply.
Biden stated that the American people know that defending democracy is not always without cost. “I won’t pretend that this will be easy.”
According to him, the administration is trying to prevent supply problems by working with energy producers as well as shippers on contingency planning. He said that he would collaborate with Congress to develop unspecified “additional steps to protect consumers” and reduce the impact of pump prices.
Russian forces continue to threaten Ukraine at the east border and from the Black Sea Crimean Peninsula. This peninsula was seized by Moscow in 2014. In 2014, Russia also supported a separatist insurgency that emerged in Ukraine’s east. Further Russian troops are threatening Ukraine in Belarus where they were deployed to conduct sweeping joint drills.
Ukraine expressed doubts about Russia’s claims of a pullback.
“We won’t believe what we hear, but we will believe what we see.” Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, stated that when we see troops withdrawing from the country, we will believe in de-escalation.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that so far there have been no signs of a reduced Russian military presence at the border of Ukraine. He also said that the alliance would like to see a “significant, enduring withdrawal” from troops, heavy equipment, and forces.
A series of cyberattacks on Tuesday took down the websites of the Ukrainian army and defense ministry, as well as major banks. It was not clear if the low-level denial of service attacks were a cover for more serious cyber-attacks. Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, stated that the U.S. has yet to determine who is behind the attacks.
After the Kremlin dismissed Western warnings as “hysteria”, and “absurdity,” few Russians now expect war.
Residents of a village in Russia’s Belgorod Region, 30 km (18 miles) away from Ukraine’s border, continued their lives as usual, even though more military personnel were passing through the streets.
Lyudmila Nechvolod, a villager, said that Ukraine is her friend. “We really are on the border, and we have relatives there and there. Everyone has someone there (on Ukraine’s side). Everyone doesn’t want war.
Tuesday saw diplomatic efforts continue.
Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary Of State, called Sergey Lavrov (Russian Foreign Minister), and Biden spoke to Emmanuel Macron, French President, on Tuesday about the crisis.
Russian lawmakers also urged Putin to recognize the rebel-held territories in eastern Ukraine as independent nations. The Russian lower house, the State Duma (or Russia’s lower chamber), voted to appeal to Putin in this regard.
Putin stated that the Russian public sympathizes with the suffering of those trapped in conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has claimed the lives of more than 14,000 people since 2014. However, he noted that Russia still believes that a 2015 peace agreement brokered by France or Germany should be the main vehicle to a settlement of the separatist dispute.
Putin’s statement indicated that he was not inclined to support the parliament proposal, which would effectively invalidate 2015 agreement. This diplomatic coup for Moscow marked a significant diplomatic coup and requested that Kyiv offer wide self-rule to separatist territories. Many in Ukraine have resented it and its implementation has stalled.
