Washington In the Ukraine conflict, the USA and Germany have drawn ranks with Russia. “Russian actions are marked with a clear price tag,” said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday during her first visit to Washington since taking office. A renewed violation of Ukrainian sovereignty would have “serious consequences” for Russia.
Before a negotiation marathon with Moscow, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that both Germany and the US saw Russia’s actions against Ukraine as “an immediate and urgent challenge to peace and stability in Europe”.
Blinken threatened Russia with severe economic sanctions in the event of a military escalation. “And that’s not just the position of the United States and Germany. It is the collective position of many countries, allies and partners that have come together, ”he said. Baerbock emphasized that there could be “no decision on security in Europe without Europe”.
Differences emerged again on the issue of the military armament of Ukraine. Baerbock made it clear that the federal government is not considering arms exports. The Green politician emphasized that Germany had supported Ukraine, for example, in setting up a military hospital.
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.
Blinken said the US would continue to supply Ukraine with defensive weapons. In the event of a Russian invasion, the US would arm Ukraine with such weapons even further than previously planned.
The Green politician traveled to Washington for the first time as Federal Foreign Minister.
(Photo: Reuters)
In the coming week – January 10th – talks between the USA and Russia are planned in Geneva. A meeting of the NATO-Russia Council is scheduled for January 12th – the first in two and a half years. In addition, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will hold talks on January 13th.
The US has been accusing Russia of building troops in areas on the border with Ukraine for weeks. It is feared that Russian troops could invade the ex-Soviet republic. Russia denies such plans.
More: Biden wants to mediate in the Ukraine conflict – but Putin remains unpredictable