(International Observation) "Diplomatic Deportation War" Doesn't Help Improve the Situation in Europe

　　China News Agency, Moscow, April 19th, title: "Diplomatic Deportation War" Doesn't Help Improve the Situation in Europe

　　China News Agency reporter Wang Xiujun

　　On the 15th, the United States expelled 10 Russian diplomats on the grounds of Russia's interference in elections, cyber attacks, etc., kicking off a "diplomatic expulsion war".

　　Subsequently, more European countries joined it.

Poland expressed support for the US sanctions against Russia on the 15th and announced the expulsion of three Russian diplomats.

Since then, in response to Russia's expulsion of Ukrainian diplomats, Ukraine announced the expulsion of a senior Russian diplomat on the 17th.

On the 17th, the Czech government also expelled 18 Russian embassy personnel on the grounds that Russian intelligence personnel were suspected of participating in the 2014 Czech arsenal explosion.

　　Faced with this situation, Russia also expelled 10, 5, and 20 diplomats from the United States, Poland, and the Czech Republic in response.

　　Officials such as the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Duma (lower house of parliament), and the Federal Council (upper house of parliament) have pointed out on many occasions that the United States is the "general plan" of this "diplomatic expulsion war."

Poland, the Czech Republic and other countries "have traces of the United States" behind the expulsion of Russian diplomats, "to follow the United States closely" and "to cooperate with the United States in expelling Russian diplomats."

　　The current situation has reflected the intensification of opposition between Russia and the United States and other allies, and the most direct reason behind this is related to the situation in Ukraine.

　　Recently, Ukrainian government forces and civilian armed forces in the east have accused each other of breaking the ceasefire agreement.

News continued to spread that Ukrainian government and civilian armed forces lined up on both sides of the line of contact.

At the same time, the Ukrainian border is not calm.

Ukraine accuses Russia of military forces on the Russian-Ukrainian border, which poses a serious threat to Ukraine's national security.

The Russian side said that the Russian army is located in Russia and poses no threat to anyone.

The Russian side also emphasized that the United States and NATO have deployed heavy troops in the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea and other Russian border areas, and have strengthened air and maritime reconnaissance activities, threatening Russia's national security.

　　Some analysts believe that a series of diplomatic pressures in this context are primarily intended to show the unity of the United States and its allies.

In the face of the so-called "threat from Russia," the United States and its European allies have been able to achieve consistent steps and form a powerful counterattack against Russia.

　　In addition, this is not unrelated to the subsequent diplomatic talks.

US President Biden proposed to hold face-to-face talks with Russian President Putin in the near future.

The "Normandy model" of the four-nation summit of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France to discuss the situation in Ukraine is also under preparation.

Applying diplomatic pressure to Russia at this time can increase the bargaining chip for the United States and other Western countries in a series of future negotiations.

　　But the final effect of this diplomatic pressure still needs to be observed.

Russia's unequal response showed its tough stance.

For example, the number of Polish and Czech diplomats expelled by Russia is greater than the number of Russian diplomats expelled by the other side, including the Czech Deputy Ambassador to Russia.

Czech’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Hamaček said on the 19th that Russia’s response was “a level higher”.

　　In dealing with Russia, although the United States and its allies can cooperate, they have not yet formed a unified strategy.

Based on recent media reports, in the face of Russian military pressure, the United States and the United Kingdom have successively announced the dispatch of warships to the Black Sea, while France advocates "sanctions and dialogue" against Russia.

Ukraine advocates that Germany immediately suspend the construction of the "Beixi-2" project for Russia to send natural gas to Germany, while Germany advocates the decoupling of political and economic projects.

　　Two European think tanks jointly issued a report on April 15 stating that countries should respect each other and carry out meaningful dialogues in order to protect European interests.

But obviously, the prerequisite for dialogue is that all parties have the most basic trust and respect, and expelling diplomats from each other will not help accumulating trust, but will make the situation go further and further away from the direction of improvement.

(Finish)