In the spotlight: the extreme caution of the West in the face of the signs of relaxation sent by Moscow
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Russian tanks during a military exercise in the Leningrad region, February 14, 2022. © AP
By: Véronique Rigolet Follow
4 mins
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Even if “
Kiev is starting to breathe
– a little better
– with the withdrawal of Russian troops
”, the
Guardian
tells us , “
Westerners remain strongly on their guard
”, comments
Le Soir
.
Like all of the international press, the Belgian daily believes that “
Russian concessions are always tactical
” and that “
the invasion of Ukraine has still not been ruled out
”.
“
Is it back like in 14
?
“, the NATO generals wondered yesterday, reports
Le Soir
: “
as in 2014, when Russia had then drawn its first plan to settle the conflict in eastern Ukraine
”.
Eight years later, "
we must always be wary
", argue the same NATO officials, for whom "
the non-invasion of Ukraine could pass for a sign of de-escalation, but it is not so
" , they warn.
The withdrawal of Russian troops "
is still not proven
", while the Kremlin has deployed more than 130,000 men on the border.
"
The threat persists
", also believes the
Washington Post
.
Russia continues its poker game, playing on several tables
"
Russia is sending mixed signals about Ukraine
", underlines the
Wall Street Journal
, which notes "
that in parallel with the announced military withdrawal, Duma deputies have called for recognition of the independence of pro-Russian Ukrainian territories
" .
Enough to allow the Kremlin "
to play on both sides in its chess game with the West
", comments
Le Soir
, which explains "
that in the event of failure of the negotiations, the Russians keep (thus) in reserve the map of the reconnaissance of Donetsk and Lugansk
”.
A way "
to raise the stakes in the regional crisis without attacking Ukraine
", also analyzes the
Guardia
n, for whom "
the maneuver of the Duma reveals all the impatience of the Kremlin in the Ukrainian impasse
".
This explains "
the necessary caution
" of Westerners, underlines the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
, while "
Putin continues his game of war and peace
".
If the negotiations "
allow for the moment to preserve peace
", warns the German daily, "
they are not a guarantee that the war will not take place
".
"
As the world looks away
", Navalny faces 10 more years in prison
This also made the front page of all the international press.
Alexei Navalny, the number one opponent in the Kremlin, Putin's pet peeve, who is already serving "
a 3 and a half year prison sentence, is on trial again on charges of embezzlement that could keep him locked up until 2032
,” explains the
Times
, which reports that its supporters directly accuse the Kremlin “
of fabricating these new charges to stifle all opposition in the country
,” and of also “
purposely scheduling this new trial during the most tense week of the Ukrainian crisis
".
This new trial is also being held
in a rather unusual place 4 hours drive east of Moscow
”, notes for its part the
Guardian
, “
which severely limits the possibility of its supporters and observers to attend the hearings
”.
Prince Andrew makes a financial agreement with his accuser
An “
amicable agreement
”, made with the one who accuses her of rape when she was 17 years old.
"
Virginia Giuffre, also a victim of the pedophile Epstein
", reports the
New York Times
, which believes that this financial agreement could allow "
the royal family to turn the page on one of the most humiliating scandals it faces
".
Not so sure, judging by the violence of the British press today, which devotes all its front pages to it and has no words harsh enough to castigate the attitude of the prince "
who had nevertheless sworn to fight for to
defend his innocence
”, mocks the
Daily Mail
, and which “
adds to the humiliation by making a financial agreement
”.
"
This is his last disgrace
," also stings the
Sun.
"
There will be no possible return
" for Andrew, slice for its part the
Daily Express
which also reports that the queen "
would have paid part of the 12 million pounds
" that this amicable agreement would have possibly cost.
"
Stupidity and arrogance will have taken everything away from Prince Andrew ,” the
Guardian
also scoffs.
"
Already deprived of all his titles, he certainly remains a duke,
underlines the daily,
but he is no longer a royal dignity, his reputation is tarnished, probably forever
".
At 61, Andrew is an "
outcast in his own kingdom
".
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