The current security situation in Kiev is very worrying

America and Europe “unite” against Russia in its confrontation with Ukraine

• A convoy of Russian armored vehicles was traveling on a highway in the Crimea a few days ago.

  AFP

• Stoltenberg warned of the "heavy cost" of any "further aggression" by Moscow against Ukraine.

  dad

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US President Joe Biden announced, the day before yesterday, "complete" unity among the major Western countries, after he held crisis talks with European leaders, which dealt with deterring any Russian attack against Ukraine, while 8,500 American soldiers were placed on alert for any possible deployment. In order to strengthen the strength of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

"I had a very, very, very good meeting," Biden told reporters, at the conclusion of a video conference, which lasted one hour and 20 minutes, with allies from Europe and NATO.

There is complete consensus with all European leaders.”

In London, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office also said leaders agreed on the importance of international unity in the face of growing Russian hostility.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Western leaders "unanimously agreed that it is Russia's responsibility to take clear initiatives for appeasement," while NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned of the "heavy cost" of any "further aggression" by Moscow against Ukraine. .

The leaders of France, Italy, Poland and the European Union also participated in the conference.

The Pentagon also announced that the United States has put up to 8,500 military personnel on high alert, in preparation for the possibility of them being deployed as part of NATO forces, if Russia invades Ukraine.

On Monday, the United States announced that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could take place "at any time", further exaggerating the situation.

The European Union countries, which were surprised by the US statements, demanded explanations, Monday, from US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, during video chats with his counterparts.

After the meeting, the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said: "We know very well the degree of threat and the way to act.

We should avoid playing with our nerves, and worrying reactions, which even have financial repercussions.”

The Europeans want to understand the concerns of the Americans and their British and Australian allies, who announced the withdrawal of some of their embassy staff from Kiev.

For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "Tensions have been exacerbated by concrete declarations and actions by the United States and NATO," denouncing the "hysteria" in Europe over a supposed imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine.

But he considered that the risk of Ukrainian forces launching an attack on the pro-Russian separatists was "very high".

'Premature' decision

And the Ukrainian authorities considered that Washington's decision to evacuate the families of its diplomats in Kiev was "premature."

For his part, Borrell said, "I see no reason to panic as long as the talks are ongoing, unless the United States provides us with information that justifies the decision to leave Ukraine."

Luxembourg's foreign minister, Jean Asselborn, said: "We must not place ourselves in the logic of war.

War must be avoided.”

Last Friday, the Russians and the Americans agreed on a new meeting, and the US Secretary of State pledged to submit written “ideas” to Moscow, without clarifying whether these points would constitute a response, item by item, to the detailed Russian demands.

Russia demands written commitments not to include Ukraine and Georgia in NATO, and to withdraw the alliance's forces and weapons from the Eastern European countries that joined it after 1997, especially from Romania and Bulgaria.

And Russia's demands are not accepted by the Westerners.

The current security situation in Ukraine is worrying. Despite Moscow's assertion that it does not intend to intervene in Ukraine, it supports pro-separatists, and has massed more than 100,000 soldiers and artillery on the border with Ukraine.

"If Russia invades Ukraine again, we will adopt unprecedented sanctions, and Russia will be completely isolated," said Danish Minister Jeppe Kofod.

In addition, financial markets fell on Monday, but the Russian Central Bank confirmed that it has "sufficient tools" to avoid that Russia's financial stability is threatened.

The European Commission attended several possibilities, which it presented to the ministers during their meeting the day before yesterday, and they will be added to the measures adopted after the response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

A European source told AFP that one of the issues on the table was to reduce gas purchases by 43%, and oil purchases by 20%, of EU supplies, which largely finance the Russian budget.

On the other hand, the European Union is looking for financial support worth 1.2 billion euros for Ukraine.

split about energy

"The sanctions process is underway to make sure that everything will be ready in case it is needed," Borrell said, adding, "Nothing concrete will be approved today."

European sanctions will have to be adopted unanimously, but those related to reducing energy purchases are dividing the EU.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is scheduled to travel to Moscow in February to discuss gas supplies to his country.

Germany has requested the withdrawal of a proposal aimed at isolating Moscow from the global payment system "SWIFT", the primary tool in global finance that allows banks to trade money, according to a European diplomatic source, at a time when Berlin refuses to deliver weapons to Kiev.

And German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Sunday to deal "wisely" with the possibility of imposing sanctions on Russia, and the "consequences" of this for Germany.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the European Union on Monday to "stay united."

"Ukraine will not succumb to provocations, but on the contrary it will maintain its calm with its partners," he said.

• The Europeans want to understand the reasons for the concern of the Americans and their British and Australian allies who announced the withdrawal of some of their embassies employees from Kiev.

• The Pentagon announces that the United States has put up to 8,500 military personnel on high alert in preparation for the possibility of their deployment as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization if Russia invades Ukraine.

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