Crisis in Ukraine: Moscow's response to Westerners

Alexis Guilleux 11:40 a.m., February 18, 2022

"Even millimetric steps towards peace are better than big steps towards war": these are the hopeful words of Annalena Baerbock, the German Minister for Foreign Affairs, as a conference opens in Munich this Friday on defense and security.

At the heart of the discussions, of course, the Ukrainian crisis in the east of the country.

Kiev and the separatists have accused each other since Thursday of bombings.

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For its part, Washington has received a letter in which Moscow threatens to react, including militarily, if its demands are not met.

Russia still demands the withdrawal of American forces from Central and Eastern Europe as well as a commitment to the non-enlargement of NATO.

In this letter, Moscow repeats that it is not considering an invasion of Ukraine.

Russian statements do not convince Americans

The Russian statements did not convince Joe Biden.

"We have reason to believe that they are engaged in a pretext operation to find an excuse to enter Ukraine. All the indications that we have show that they are ready to attack Ukraine. My feeling is that is that it will happen in the next few days," he said.

The American strategy therefore remains the same as in recent days with this offensive communication.

To warn of the risk of an invasion before the UN Security Council, Antony Blinken, the American Secretary of State, even presented the worst-case scenario.

Russian missiles and bombs would be sent to Ukraine.

Communications would be jammed.

Cyberattacks would shut down key Ukrainian institutions.

After that, tanks and soldiers would advance on key targets like Kiev.

While the United Nations calls on both sides to exercise restraint, Washington still holds out hope for a diplomatic outcome.

Antony Blinken has also proposed a meeting with his Russian counterpart in Europe next week.