Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier reacted cautiously to Moscow’s announcement that the first troops in the Ukraine conflict would be withdrawn. “We need clear, resilient, credible signals of de-escalation after the significant build-up of troops that took place on Russia’s western border,” Steinmeier said on Tuesday in the Latvian capital Riga. At the same time, he assured the Baltic States that Germany was on their side in the conflict.
At the present time, it is not known whether this withdrawal of troops will actually take place, said Steinmeier after a conversation Latvia’s President Egils Levits. “If that were the case, that would be a welcome sign and would make the urgently needed talks possible.” Many people across Europe were hoping for such signs these days.
With regard to the three Baltic states, Steinmeier emphasized: “Like its Baltic neighbors, Latvia can rely on Germany’s solidarity and Germany’s support leaving.”