Ukrainian: New Biden-Macron communication – German diplomats leave Kiev

The presidents of the USA and France had a new telephone conversation yesterday, Tuesday, regarding the Ukrainian crisis, as announced by the White House. Joe Biden and Emanuel Macron discussed their recent contacts with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine and reaffirmed their support for a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

According to the White House, the two leaders discussed the current diplomatic and deterrent efforts in close cooperation with NATO allies, in response to the concentration of Russian military forces near the border with Ukraine.

They also stressed their readiness to impose serious consequences and strengthen defense on NATO’s east wing.

It is worth noting that, according to White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki, the Biden government could impose sanctions on Russia even if President Putin decides not to invade Ukraine.

German diplomats in Kiev headed west

Most of the staff have now left the German embassy in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, the foreign ministry announced in Berlin on Tuesday.

Most of the families of the diplomats and members of the diplomatic staff whose presence is not considered absolutely necessary have left the country in their majority, the Foreign Minister clarified in the German Agency.

Some are still on the road.

The German Consulate General in Daniec, which operated in Dnipro, has moved to Lviv and is preparing to resume consular services there.

The German government is urging its citizens to leave Ukraine amid warnings from the government of US President Joe Biden about a looming Russian invasion.

During a visit to Egypt on Saturday, German Foreign Minister Analena Berbock assured that the German embassy in Kiev would remain open but that its staff would be reduced.

The relocation of the German Consulate General from Dnipro to Lviv is intended to remove personnel from the potential front line of Ukrainian government troops and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

“Wars do not start on Wednesdays”

Russia’s ambassador to the European Union downgraded US warnings of a possible attack on his country in Ukraine on Wednesday.

“As far as Russia is concerned, I can assure you that there will be no attack today, Wednesday. There will be no escalation next week, next week or next month,” Vladimir Tsizov told Die. Welt published in the German newspaper.

“Wars in Europe rarely start on Wednesdays,” he added jokingly.

The US government has warned that Russia could launch a military invasion of Ukraine in the days leading up to the Beijing Winter Olympics (Sunday).

Washington and its NATO allies have been warning for months about Moscow launching a new offensive in Ukraine following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, something the Kremlin denies.

Mr Tsizov dismissed the US government’s warnings, saying: “When you make accusations, much less when you make extremely serious accusations against Russia, you have a responsibility to present evidence. Otherwise it is slander. So where is the evidence?”

The Russian diplomat called on the West to take seriously Russia’s concerns and proposals for a security architecture in Europe.

“Once our partners finally hear our legitimate concerns, a process of easing tensions can begin, which will be” in the interest of all Europeans, from Lisbon to Vladivostok, and other countries in the world, “he said.

The Kremlin is urging NATO to limit its activities and deployments in Eastern Europe and to pledge not to join former Soviet republics such as Ukraine, which the West rejects. He also called for an end to the development of weapons systems, especially the US missile defense system, on the Russian border.

With information from AMPE