Ukraine conflict: NATO appeals to Putin - but Russia does not understand concerns

Created: 12/23/2021, 07:20 AM

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, attended a meeting in the Kremlin on Wednesday.

© Mikhail Metzel / dpa

There is also tension shortly before Christmas because of the situation on the border between Russia and Ukraine.

A Russian ambassador denies preparations for the invasion.

Moscow / Kiev - NATO has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin * to use the upcoming holidays to withdraw his armed forces from the Ukrainian border. Russia has the opportunity to ensure a peaceful and relaxing Christmas for everyone, said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in an interview with the German Press Agency. To do this, the country must reduce tensions and withdraw its troops.

According to the NATO Secretary General, it is now about tens of thousands of soldiers that Russia has gathered near Ukraine.

"It is a major military build-up and there is no sign of this march stopping or slowing," he said.

The Norwegian left it open as to whether he suspected that the troop movements were primarily an attempt by Russia to extort concessions from NATO on security issues.

"There is uncertainty about Russia's intentions," he said.

Stoltenberg pointed out that Russia had already used violence against Ukraine in the course of the annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.

Ukraine conflict: Russian ambassador denies preparations for invasion

In view of this tense situation between the West and Russia, Moscow has again given its assurance that it will not attack Ukraine militarily. "I can assure you that no Russian troops are busy preparing for an invasion of Ukraine *," Russia's EU ambassador, Vladimir Chizhov, told the

. He did not understand why Europe was so concerned about Russian troop movements that were taking place on Russia's own territory.

"Not a single Russian soldier has moved across the Russian border," he emphasized.

Russia is pursuing a policy that supports Russian-speaking population groups who live in other countries.

"But Russia has never said that we intend to use military means to do so," stressed Chizhov, according to

.

Baerbock is “very worried” about the Russian troop movements on the border with Ukraine

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock * (Greens) confirmed on Wednesday that she was “very worried” about the Russian troop movements on the border with Ukraine.

She called on Moscow to return to the negotiating table.

According to the report, NATO has meanwhile put its crisis troops in increased operational readiness.

The tensions between Russia and the West over the Ukraine conflict had recently intensified significantly.

Given the massive deployment of Russian troops, there are fears that Moscow might attack Ukraine.

The Kremlin rejects this and accuses Ukraine and NATO of provocations.

Russia: German ambassador to Ukraine considers “broad attack” unlikely

The German ambassador to Ukraine, Anka Feldhusen, believes that a large-scale attack by Russia on the country is unlikely. Clear words from European politicians and early coordination would have sent the right signals in the direction of Moscow, Feldhusen wrote in an email to German citizens living in Ukraine. “In the past few weeks we have also not seen any significant increase in troops near the Russian border with Ukraine. In this respect, I still consider the likelihood of a broad attack by Russia to be low. "

The diplomat also emphasized: "Like all our partners, we also take and I take the Russian approach very seriously." In this situation, "calm and prudence, but also mindfulness" must be shown, as the new federal government shows .