The day after an interview with his American counterpart Joe Biden.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ruled on Wednesday that Moscow had "the right" to defend itself against NATO support for Ukraine, sticking to its positions
During this two-hour exchange, Joe Biden threatened Vladimir Putin with "strong sanctions" in the event of an invasion of Ukraine, on the borders of which Russia is accused of having massed tens of thousands of soldiers and tanks . Remarks reiterated on Wednesday: "I was very clear, if indeed he invades Ukraine, there will be serious consequences", "economic consequences such as he has never seen", declared Joe Biden in front of reporters at the White House. The Democratic president, however, clarified that sending American troops to defend Ukraine was "not being considered" at present.
Russia denies any belligerent inclination towards Ukraine, from which it annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014, but categorically opposes any membership of Kiev in NATO, a message that the Russian president repeated on Wednesday.
"Russia is pursuing a foreign policy for peace, but it has the right to protect its security," he said at a press conference, considering that letting NATO approach its borders without reacting would be "criminal".
Read alsoUkraine: 5 minutes to understand the escalation of tensions with Russia
Current tensions raise the specter of a new military confrontation in Ukraine, a poor country in Eastern Europe torn since 2014 by a war between Kiev and pro-Russian separatists in the east.
Kiev accuses Russia of supporting the separatists, which Moscow denies.
The conflict has claimed more than 13,000 lives.
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"Ukraine will retaliate without hesitation": Kiev warns Moscow against any invasion attempt
Putin asks for NATO guarantees
"We can only be concerned about the possibility of Ukraine's admission to NATO, because this would undoubtedly be accompanied by a deployment of military contingents, bases and armaments which threaten us, ”he added.
During his meeting with the host of the White House, the Russian head of state notably asked for "sure legal guarantees" which would prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.
In spite of the gulf which separates the positions between Russia and the Western countries on Ukraine, the Russian president considered "constructive" his exchange with his American counterpart "We have the possibility of continuing this dialogue, and it seems to me that this 'this is the essential,' added the master of the Kremlin, who was speaking for the first time about his interview with Joe Biden.
French planes intercepted
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who for several months has been calling on his Western allies to support him more, judged the discussions between MM.
Biden and Putin.
"We are now seeing a real personal reaction (...) from President Biden in the resolution of the conflict," he said.
The US and Ukrainian presidents are due to speak by phone on Thursday.
Despite these statements, the situation remains volatile on the ground.
Thus, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that fighter planes from Moscow had intercepted and "escorted" three French military aircraft over the Black Sea on Wednesday, claiming to have "prevented any violation" of its border.
Paris had not immediately reacted to the incident.
France, precisely, is one of the European countries which reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, the day after the interview between MM.
Biden and Putin.
The French Foreign Ministry thus warned Russia of the "strategic and massive consequences" that a "new attack on the territorial integrity of Ukraine" would have.
Threats against the future Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline
Washington promises, in the event of a new attack, to increase its military support for Ukraine, to strengthen its "capacities" with its NATO allies in Eastern Europe, and, above all, to impose sanctions. much harder economic times than those piled up on Russia, to little effect, after 2014.
The United States also waved the red rag of Nord Stream 2 by which Russia, very dependent on its hydrocarbon exports, wants to double its deliveries of natural gas to Germany, without going through Ukraine. Noting that it was not yet in operation, the American national security adviser Jake Sullivan estimated on Tuesday that "if Vladimir Putin wants the future Nord Stream 2 to carry gas, he may not take the risk of 'invade Ukraine'.
The new German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, also came to support Kiev and threatened on Wednesday possible "consequences" for the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline which connects Russia to Germany in the event of an invasion of Ukraine.
"Our position is very clear, we want the inviolability of borders to be respected by all", he declared in his first interview after taking office.
A new incursion into Ukraine "would be a strategic mistake for Russia," added British Foreign Minister Liz Truss.
