Putin Says Russia Does Not Want War In Europe And Also Withdrawal Troops Near Ukraine
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin sausthat Russia does not want a war in Europe. He noted at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Moscow.
Putin says that if Russia want a war (in Europe)? Of course does not. He commented on the current tension on the Russian-Ukrainian border.
He added that specifically, for this reason, Russia presented proposals for negotiations on European security. The result of which should be an agreement that meets the interests of all parties.
At the same time, the Ministry of Defense affirmed that it deployed some of the Russian troops for weeks near the Ukrainian border. And their presence raised fears of a military operation in the neighboring country began to return to their barracks.
Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov says by Russian news agencies that the South and West military districts’ units have already completed their tasks. They began to load on means of transport and will begin to return to their barracks.
This announcement is the first sign that Moscow has been backing down from its crisis with Western countries since the end of 2021.
Russia has sent more than 100,000 troops to the borders with Ukraine since December, raising fears of an imminent invasion of the country.
Western countries refuse to grant. They began with the promise that they would not admit Ukraine to NATO. The country has always refused this hypothesis, but it does demand certain guarantees for its security.
Western countries have endangered Moscow with unusual embargoes if it enters Ukrainian territory. The United States and other countries also have deployed military reinforcements in Eastern Europe.
Currently, Russia is conducting military exercises in Belarus, which will last until February 20.
After he says Russia does not want war, Putin also stated that his generation had witnessed an armed conflict in Europe, alluding to the war in Yugoslavia.
He stated that they had witnessed the war in Europe unleashed by the NATO bloc against Yugoslavia. A big military operation with the bombing of one of the European capitals, Belgrade.
He stressed that he carried out the military actions without the authorization of the UN Security Council, and that was a very bad example.
Scholz disagreed with the Russian leader by pointing out a threat of genocide in Yugoslavia. Putin replied that what is ensuing currently in eastern Ukraine is also genocide.
Asked whether Russia will continue to withdraw troops from the vicinity of Ukraine’s borders, the Kremlin chief said it would rely on the situation.
She said that how is Russia going to act? According to the plan. And what is this made of it from the actual situation on the ground? She added that who can say how the situation will develop? Nobody, for now. It depends not only on us.
Putin also commented on the Russian deputies’ request to recognize the separatist republics in eastern Ukraine and stated that Moscow would start from the potential of the Minsk agreements for settlement in Donbas.
Kiev warned on Tuesday that Russia’s possible recognition of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk would mean Russia’s exit from the Minsk process.
The German chancellor, in turn, said during the press conference with Putin that this measure would be a “political catastrophe,” collects media.
Distrust In The UK
However, despite Putin’s statements, British Foreign Minister Liz Truss said she was concerned about the possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. Though Putin says Russia does not want war, she thought it could be imminent, highly likely, and a possible war in Russia and Europe.
In the United Kingdom, they precisely set a date and time for the massive military invasion: Wednesday, February 16, at 3 AM. Newspapers have used their main headlines to contradict the announcements made by Russia regarding the apparent de-escalation, Infobae collects.
The minister said that he was very worried about the situation. We could be on the verge of a war in Europe, which could have serious consequences, not only for the people of Russia and Ukraine but for the security of Europe.
He added that there is a huge number of soldiers on the border. They know they are in a position to strike imminently. Though he says Russia Does not want war, he (Putin) can still change his mind, which is why diplomacy is so vital.
Truss made these statements before British Prime Minister Boris Johnson heads a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee. They made up of the main ministers to address the possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, which, according to the media, could take place in the next few hours.
Johnson and US President Joe Biden had a conversation recently. Both predicted a protracted crisis for Russia if it plagued Ukrainian territory.
Ukraine also showed mistrust, saying it would believe the withdrawal of some Russian military units from its borders. They will believe when it sees it with its own eyes.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba said that there are different statements from the Russian Federation all the time. We have a rule that is we don’t believe it when we hear it, but when we see it, we will believe.
He added that when we see the withdrawal (of the Russian soldiers), then we will believe in a de-escalation.
The US Will Verify The Withdrawal
The US echoed this and announced that it would verify whether Russia was withdrawing troops. The US ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, assured her that her country would have to verify it.
The diplomat declared that they had noticed today that Russia is claiming to be carrying out some de-escalation. They will have to verify whether or not this is the case. They are also monitoring the situation. She has nothing more to say about that.
For its part, NATO showed cautious optimism regarding Ukraine after Russian announcements of partial troop withdrawal.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia is hinting that it wants to talk, raising “cautious optimism.” However, they stressed that there are still no concrete signs of de-escalation on the border with Ukraine.
He said they would continue monitoring and closely following everything Russia is doing.
Other Reactions
The US Suggested Its Citizens Vacate Belarus
The United States urged its citizens to leave Belarus immediately. They were citing a buildup of Russian soldiers on the border with neighboring Ukraine.
The notice, issued on Monday, came on the same day that Washington announced the closure of its embassy in Kyiv and the transfer of its staff to the city of Lviv, 335 km away. Because of the surprising acceleration of the deployment of Russian forces.
After Western countries accused Russia of sending more than 100,000 troops to surround the former Soviet republic, the United States had already asked its nationals to leave Ukraine.
Besides fears of a possible military conflict on the border, Washington’s warning for Belarus also cites the risk of confinement, arbitrary application of laws, and restrictions due to the coronavirus as additional reasons to leave that country.
Israel Prepares To transfer its Embassy In Ukraine From Kyiv To Lviv
The Israeli Foreign Ministry is preparing to transfer its embassy in Ukraine from Kyiv to Lviv, in the country’s west, where it has sent personnel to relocate the Israeli legation.
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid warned that he calls on the Israelis still in Ukraine to leave the country. He did after a new meeting in the ministry’s situation room to address the situation in Ukraine. The window of the prospect to leave is closing.
Foreign Affairs assured that personnel from the embassy in Ukraine, headed by Ambassador Michael Brodsky, continue to provide consular services to citizens who need them. Still, Lapid insisted on the urgency of leaving in light of the growing indications of a possibility of escalation in the country.
A team sent from Jerusalem assists the Kyiv embassy in expediting the procedures to remove Israeli citizens in Ukraine. In contrast, embassy staff traveled today to Lviv, a city near the border with Poland and further from the focus of tension near Russia, to prepare for the transfer.
Following the request of the Israeli Embassy, the country’s leading universities agreed to allow Israeli students to continue their studies remotely, therefore allowing them to leave the country.
