In the spotlight: the Russian threat in Ukraine
Audio 05:28
Ukrainian soldier in a trench in the Donetsk region on December 3, 2021 © AP / Andriy Dubchak
By: Sébastien Duhamel Follow
5 mins
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A Ukrainian soldier patrols a trench.
We are in the Donetsk region, camouflage atmosphere: image of this war which has lasted for almost eight years in eastern Ukraine.
A front page image from The
New York Times
and The
Financial Times
today.
Yes, the Russian movements on the Ukrainian border are of great concern to Americans and Europeans alike.
Now, we are in tune on both sides of the Atlantic and this, tells us the
Financial Times
, after weeks of "
sustained diplomatic engagement
" by the United States with European governments, "
supported by the sharing of information normally reserved for the closest allies
”.
This ultimately helped
"
to convince some previously skeptical European capitals, including Berlin, that the Kremlin could soon order the dispatch of its troops to Ukraine."
"
A long-awaited Biden-Poutin interview
The German press is also looking into the issue. "
Biden wants to prevent Russia from attacking,
" headlines the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
. The German newspaper looks back on the
Washington Post's
revelations
this weekend. According to US military intelligence, “
Moscow plans to assemble around 175,000 troops by early 2022 for a possible border offensive.
"
The two presidents, Joe Biden and Vladimir Poutine, will meet this Tuesday, December 7, by interposed videos, and the Kremlin's objectives seem clear to the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
: "
Putin wants to prevent both a new modernization of the Ukrainian army and above all, membership in NATO
”.
Last Wednesday, he also "
demanded the end of deliveries of American military equipment to Ukraine and the guarantee that Kiev would never be admitted into NATO
".
Moscow presents this as "
a
red line
", specifies the German newspaper, before relaying the words of Joe Biden to the face: "
I do not accept a red line from anyone.
"
A crisis in the Russian press
The subject obviously interests the Russian press, too. Starting with the
Kommersant
newspaper
. An analyst first notes the half-victory of Kiev, which has long wished for American involvement in this dossier. A half-victory only, because the Ukrainians would have preferred "
a tripartite interview
", and they have reason to worry about the guarantees that Joe Biden will bring "
in their absence
", estimates the Russian newspaper. However, he continues, the Russians can also be worried because "
the stakes are high
". "
The lack of progress at the meeting could lead to further serious sanctions
,"
Kommersant
emphasizes
.
Indeed, "
Washington is perfectly capable of prohibiting international investors from the secondary market for Russian government bonds
." "
It goes without saying that such a development would inevitably lead to a collapse of the market and the ruble,
" analyzes the article. This is why the Russian newspaper is somewhat worried about the position of the Kremlin. He hopes that Vladimir Poutine, "
by agreeing to decide the fate of Ukraine directly with Joe Biden
,
has taken into account all the options and all the possible compromises
". A word finally, as for the reality of the American intelligence on the movements on the Ukrainian border: "
Even if it seems to be a scenario resulting from an alternative reality
, says
Kommersant
cautiously
,
it is nonetheless very worrying.
And more and more every day.
"
China and the Atlantic Ocean
Another cause for concern in Washington: Beijing, which has its eye on the Atlantic Ocean. And it is on the African continent that this is happening, information from the
Wall Street Journal
: according to American intelligence, "
China is seeking to establish its first permanent military base on the Atlantic coast of Africa
" and it has visibly "
An eye on Bata, in Equatorial Guinea
". It is a city, explains the
Wall Street Journal
, which "
already has a commercial deep water port precisely built by China on the Gulf of Guinea
", and "
excellent highways connect it to Gabon and the interior of central Africa
". The main concern of Americans here is that
"Chinese warships may eventually rearm and re-equip off the east coast of the United States
-
a threat that is raising alarm bells in the White House and the United States. Pentagon,
”says the newspaper.
The principal deputy adviser to the national security of the United States, Jon Finer, moreover visited Equatorial Guinea in October, "
with the mission to persuade the authorities of Equatorial Guinea to reject the overtures of China
".
Beijing has visibly been making calls since 2019 but, today, US officials are trying to convince that it would be "
unwise to insert itself between the front lines of global competition between the United States and China
" .
In any case, it is certain for the
Wall Street Journal
: this "
skirmish over a country which rarely attracts attention reflects the growing tensions between the two great powers
".
Pope Francis' message for migrants
A message also in the press today, that of Pope Francis in favor of migrants. A message delivered during a trip to Greece this weekend, but the Spanish press comes back widely. Spain, gateway to Europe, follows the migration file very closely, so we see the visit of Pope Francis on the front page of a good part of the newspapers this morning:
El País
,
El Mundo
,
ABC
,
La Vanguardia
. Highlight of this visit, relates
El País
, “
a moving speech by the sovereign pontiff at the Lesbos refugee camp
,
five years after his first visit to this Greek island, emblematic of the migration crisis
”. Pope Francis denounced the "
shipwreck of civilization
”which abandons migrants.
The Mediterranean "
is becoming a cold cemetery without tombstones
", he lamented.
A message, analyzes the Spanish newspapers, obviously addressed to European leaders in particular.
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