Kiev In the midst of the tensions in the Ukraine conflict, Russia is planning a military maneuver, according to a media report, which should provide fresh fuel. Hundreds of paratroopers are expected to hold exercises near the Ukrainian border this week, the Interfax news agency reported on Thursday, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.
The maneuver should take place on the Crimea peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, and the neighboring Krasnodar province. Around 1200 soldiers with more than 250 military vehicles and aircraft are to take part. The aim is to practice capturing an area as part of an offensive mission.
There is a certain tension between the announcement and an announcement by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on Wednesday evening. The organization announced that it had brokered a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. This is the result of the talks between the OSCE, Ukraine and Russia.
The participants expressed their determination to implement the agreement of July 22, 2020 on all points. In eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian government troops and separatists, who are supported by Russia, face each other. The governments in Kiev and Moscow blame each other for recent violations of the 2020 ceasefire.
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The government in Moscow has now sent the US proposed dates for talks on the required security guarantees, as the RIA news agency reported on Thursday, citing the State Department. She did not give a schedule. Vice-Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying that no preconditions for the talks will be accepted.
Russia’s EU ambassador appeased
The conflict itself has been going on since 2014. Mediated by Germany and France, the worst fighting between Ukrainian soldiers and the groups supported by Russia ended in 2015.
Russia’s ambassador to the European Union (EU) denied allegations that the Kremlin was preparing a military attack on Ukraine. “Russia is not planning to attack any country. I can assure you that no Russian troops are busy preparing for an invasion of Ukraine, “Russia’s EU ambassador, Vladimir Chizhov, told the newspaper” Welt “on Wednesday.
Regarding the deployment of Russian troops on the 2,000-kilometer border between Russia and Ukraine, Chishov said: “Why is Europe so concerned about plans that do not exist and Russian troop movements taking place on Russia’s own territory? Not a single Russian soldier has moved across the Russian border. ”
Russia pursues a policy that supports Russian-speaking population groups and compatriots who live in other countries. “But Russia has never said that we intend to use military means to do this.”
German ambassador considers attack unlikely
The German ambassador to Ukraine, Anka Feldhusen, also believes that a large-scale attack by Russia on the country is unlikely. Clear words from European politicians and early coordination would have sent the right signals in the direction of Moscow, Feldhusen wrote in an email to German citizens living in Ukraine. “In the past few weeks we have also not seen any significant increase in troops near the Russian border with Ukraine. In this respect, I still consider the likelihood of a broad attack by Russia to be low. “
The diplomat also emphasized: “Like all our partners, we also take and I take the Russian approach very seriously.” In this situation, “calm and prudence, but also mindfulness” must be shown, as the new federal government shows . Reports of alleged Russian preparations for an invasion of Ukraine have been causing international concern for weeks. Russia rejected such allegations several times.
NATO has also called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to use the upcoming holidays to withdraw his armed forces from the Ukrainian border. Russia has the opportunity to ensure a peaceful and relaxing Christmas for everyone, said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in an interview with the German Press Agency. To do this, the country must reduce tensions and withdraw its troops.
NATO Secretary General: “Significant military development”
According to the NATO Secretary General, it is now about tens of thousands of soldiers that Russia has gathered near Ukraine. “It is a major military build-up and there is no sign of this march stopping or slowing,” he said.
The Norwegian left it open as to whether he suspected that the troop movements were primarily an attempt by Russia to extort concessions from NATO on security issues. “There is uncertainty about Russia’s intentions,” he said. Stoltenberg pointed out that Russia had already used violence against Ukraine in the course of the annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.
In view of the Russian demands for additional security guarantees from NATO, he was ready to talk – but rejected ideas that NATO could, for example, not accept Ukraine.
“We are ready to sit down and talk to Russia in the NATO-Russia Council. However, we will not compromise on the basic principles, ”he told the dpa. “We cannot question NATO’s right to protect and defend all allies, nor the basic principle that every nation has the right to choose its own path.”
It is also about respecting the sovereignty of smaller nations. “This idea that a great power like Russia can decide what smaller neighbors can or cannot do is reintroducing that notion of spheres of influence. That absolutely goes against everything that has ensured peace and stability in Europe since the end of the Cold War. “
When asked whether NATO could react to the tense security situation with an expanded troop presence in the eastern alliance area, Stoltenberg reacted evasively. “We will continuously check whether we need to adjust our troop presence further,” he said. He wanted to be careful with speculations, as this could lead to further tension.
The Norwegian did not mention the fact that the military had already taken measures to be better prepared for possible threats against eastern allies. For example, NATO Commander-in-Chief Tod D. Wolters recently reduced the so-called “notice-to-move” period for the VJTF rapid reaction force. This means that the soldiers currently have to be ready for a transfer to a crisis area within five days. Previously the deadline had been seven days.
With regard to the current security situation, Stoltenberg emphasized: “We see no immediate threat to the NATO allies.”
More: Russia threatens “military-technical measures” in the Ukraine conflict