Ukraine conflict: EU representative appreciates Macron maneuvers with Putin - Germans fear invasion

Created: 2022-02-09 08:46

French President Emmanuel Macron (left) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin © SNA/IMAGO (montage)

Are the diplomatic attempts at solving the Ukraine conflict bearing fruit?

Politicians see signs of this.

How threatening do the Germans consider the situation?

News ticker.

• The EU Foreign Representative Borrell sees signs of relaxation in the Ukraine conflict *.

• A slim majority of Germans expect a Russian attack on Ukraine.

• This

  news ticker on the Ukraine conflict with Russia

  is continuously updated.

Kiev/Moscow - After weeks of negotiations, is a de-escalation in the Ukraine conflict possible?

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell sees at least some signs.

French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Moscow was a "good initiative," Borrell said on Tuesday (February 8) at the end of his visit to Washington.

"I think that's an element of relaxation."

Macron's meeting with Russia's head of state Vladimir Putin* on Monday "didn't work miracles," said the EU representative.

But as long as people are willing "to sit down at the table and talk, I think there's hope that there won't be a military confrontation."

Ukraine conflict: Macron conveys assurances to Putin - signs of de-escalation?

According to his own statements, Macron had received an assurance from Putin that he would refrain from further escalation.

The French head of state said on Tuesday that he had offered the Kremlin boss "concrete security guarantees" during the five-hour meeting on Monday.

During the consultations with Putin, he was concerned with "preventing an escalation and opening up new perspectives," said Macron.

"For me, this goal has been achieved."

According to Western sources, Moscow has massed more than 100,000 soldiers on the border with Ukraine.

This fuels fears that Russia could be preparing an attack on the neighboring country.

Russia denies this and at the same time claims that it feels threatened by NATO.

Moscow is demanding extensive security guarantees from the military alliance and the USA, but so far without success.

Russian invasion of Ukraine?

What the Germans think

A slim majority of Germans meanwhile considers a Russian invasion of Ukraine to be likely.

Referring to a survey by the European Council of Foreign Relations (ECFR) think tank, the

reported that 52 percent expect a Russian attack before the end of this year.

However, only 37 percent of citizens believed that Germany should defend Ukraine in the event of an invasion.

In addition to Germany, the ECFR also interviewed people in Finland, France, Italy, Poland, Romania and Sweden.

According to the

, it became apparent that concern about a Russian attack was greatest in the Eastern European countries.

Ukraine conflict: Chancellor Scholz is looking for a solution with partners

In any case, talks about the Ukraine conflict are continuing.

A top-level meeting took place in Berlin on Tuesday evening, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Poland's head of state Andrej Duda.

With an offer to talk to Russia and a renewed appeal for de-escalation on the Ukrainian border, the three countries want to defuse the conflict with Moscow.

At the same time, they made it clear that "any further military aggression by Russia against Ukraine will have massive consequences and a high price."