The Federal Chancellor and the US President agree that the greatest vigilance is still required in the Ukraine crisis.
(Photo: dpa)
new York According to Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden, there is still a risk of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Both had agreed during a phone call that the situation in the region was to be assessed as extremely serious given the massive Russian troop deployment in the border area with Ukraine. The spokesman for the federal government, Steffen Hebestreit, said on Wednesday. A significant withdrawal of Russian troops has not been observed so far, the highest level of vigilance is required.
Both leaders welcomed statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin that diplomatic efforts should continue. It is now important to pursue them further with high pressure. It is important to enter into a constructive dialogue on questions of European security, to implement the Minsk agreements and, with the support of Germany and France, to make progress in the Normandy format.
According to Scholz and Biden, the key to this lies in Moscow. Russia must take real steps to de-escalate. In the event of further military aggression against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, Russia can expect extremely serious consequences.
After the meeting, the White House said Biden and Scholz had emphasized the importance of ongoing transatlantic cooperation. This applies to diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis, deterrence measures and strengthening the eastern NATO states should Russia attack Ukraine again.
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Biden had already emphasized in his television speech on Tuesday evening that there was still no evidence that Russian troops had withdrawn. At the same time, he had informed the Russian people that the Russians were not America’s enemies and that all diplomatic avenues were to be exhausted.
According to diplomats, the phone call between Scholz was intended to inform Biden about the meeting with Putin and to determine the joint course of action for the coming days.
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