“Real possibilities” for a de-escalation in Ukraine crisis, they say involved

The hope of avoiding a war in Ukraine It increased on Wednesday after the diplomatic efforts of these days, which have created “real possibilities” to de-escalate the crisis between Kiev and Moscow, according to the Ukrainian authorities, and have given “positive signs”, according to the Kremlin.

“Today there are real possibilities for a diplomatic settlement,” said the head of Ukrainian diplomacy, Dmytro Kuleba, for whom the situation is “tense, but under control.”

The threats of “unprecedented” sanctions in the event of an attack by Russiaas well as the intense dialogue in recent days, could dispel the specter of war in Europe, according to the Ukrainian government.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also welcomed on Wednesday the “progress” made after numerous diplomatic exchanges between Russia and Western countries. “The mission is to guarantee security in Europe, and I think we will achieve it,” he added.

France also welcomed the fact that President Emmanuel Macron’s tour to Moscow, Kiev and Berlin achieved its “objective” and allowed “progress” to reduce tension, the French presidency estimated on Wednesday.

Despite this, Washington said that the Russians seem to send more forces to the borders.

“We continue to see, even in the last 24 hours, supplemental capabilities flowing from other regions of Russia to the border with Ukraine and Belarus,” the Pentagon spokesman said.

“Positive signs”

Moscow sends mixed messages. “There have been positive signs that a solution for Ukraine could be based only on fulfilling the Minsk agreements,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov reported, referring to the agreements signed in 2015 after Russia annexed Crimea.

However, Peskov qualified by pointing out that there was no indication from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that “he is ready to solve it quickly.”

Having met with Vladimir Putin on Monday in the Kremlin, Emmanuel Macron said that the Russian president promised him that he “would not be the cause of the escalation.”

On Wednesday, the French head of state briefed US President Joe Biden by phone about his “recent meetings” with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, the White House announced in a statement.

“They also addressed ongoing diplomatic efforts and deterrence efforts undertaken in close coordination with our allies and partners in response to Russia’s continued military buildup on the border with Ukraine,” it added.

German involvement

Russia, which received a visit from Macron on Monday, is preparing for another two-day visit by the head of British diplomacy, Liz Truss. And British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is traveling to Poland, where he plans to deploy more troops.

In this context, Scholz is becoming increasingly involved in response to criticism in recent weeks for his discretion and alleged complacency with Moscow.

After receiving the head of the Danish government, Mette Frederiksen, on Wednesday, the German chancellor will meet on Thursday with the leaders of Russia’s neighboring Baltic countries.

Despite the announcement of an additional 350 German soldiers being sent to Lithuania as part of a NATO mission, Berlin’s reluctance to allow Estonia to deliver German weapons to Kiev has created tensions in recent weeks.

After his visit to Washington on Monday to reassure Americans about Germany’s reliability, and after Tuesday’s meeting in Berlin with the French and Polish presidents, Scholz walks a tightrope between the expectations of his Western partners and Germany’s dependence on Russian gas.

“worrisome” level of gas

The level of gas reserves in Germany has been reduced to a “worrying” level, below the critical threshold of 40%, the government announced on Wednesday.

The highlight of this diplomatic activity is Scholz’s long-awaited visit to Putin on February 15, his first since his election to the foreign ministry in early December.

The shadow of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which links Russia and Germany and still pending certification, continues to hang over relations between the two countries.

The chancellor assured a group of US senators that the pipeline would not go ahead if Russia invades Ukraine, according to Republican chief Mitch McConnell.

However, the unknown remains about the true intentions of Putin, who said nothing on Monday about the Russian troops deployed on the border with Ukraine.