Russia says it does not want war, but has put a “weapon on the table” in its negotiations with the United States, gathering troops on the border with Ukraine. The statement was made today by the US Ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan, during a press conference.
Sullivan called the development of tens of thousands of Russian soldiers “unusual” and said it could not be explained as ordinary military training.
“It’s the equivalent of you and I having a discussion or a negotiation. “If I put a gun on the table and say I’m coming peacefully, that’s threatening.”, Sullivan told reporters. “And this is what we see now.”
“We hope that the Russian government understands what it is saying and does not plan to invade further. Ukraine and will not do so. “But the facts show that he has the ability to do it right now,” he said.
Washington is now waiting for Russia’s response
Sullivan said Washington was now waiting for a response from Russia in US and NATO documents, outlining a diplomatic outlet from the Ukrainian crisis, and called on Russia to withdraw its troops from the Ukrainian border.
He clarified that the documents contain proposals for greater transparency around military exercises in Europe, as well as arms sales to Ukraine.
“We mentioned the possibility of mutual transparency measures with the Russian government, including offensive weapons systems in Ukraine, as well as measures to increase confidence in military exercises and high schools in Europe,” Sullivan said. broadcast by Reuters and rebroadcast by the Athenian News Agency.
He added that they could then have telephone conversations or a live meeting between US and Russian diplomats, reiterating that diplomacy is the only way forward.
Sullivan also said that economic sanctions against Moscow, following an invasion of Ukraine, would be only part of the West’s response.
Other measures will include export controls and strengthening US allies in Europe, as well as blocking the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia in Germany, said the US ambassador to Moscow.
Putin and Xi will discuss security in Europe in the midst of a crisis for Ukraine
Meanwhile, the presidents of Russia and China –Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping – will spend “a lot of time” discussing security in Europe and Moscow’s package of demands to the West when they meet for talks next week, the Kremlin announced today.
Putin will travel to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 4 amid a heated debate with the West over Ukraine.
The talks will focus on Washington and elsewhere for indications of the direction of Russian-Chinese relations, which have become closer and the two countries’ relations with the West have deteriorated.
“I think this time, of course, a lot of time will be spent on exchanging views on international issues, including strategic stability in Europe, security guarantees for Russia, security in Europe and Russia’s dialogue with the US and NATO and “Regional problems,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov told reporters.
Putin is expected to fill the void left by foreign officials, as some Western countries have said they will not send government officials to the Games because of China’s human rights record. Putin has said he opposes diplomatic boycotts.
Russia has been cultivating closer ties with China since 2014, when the annexation of Crimea hit relations with the West.
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