Germany worries about Vladimir Putin’s threats to Europe

Published on : 12/22/2021 – 3:16 PM

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday (December 22) expressed concern over threatening statements by Vladimir Putin, who promised a “military and technical” response from Russia if his Western rivals did not end to their policy deemed hostile.

“My concern is great” because the words of the Russian president intervened before “troop movements” on the border with Ukraine, indicated the head of diplomacy, judging that this “serious crisis” with Moscow could not be resolved than through dialogue.

Against the backdrop of growing tensions around Ukraine, the Russian head of state assured that he would take “adequate military and technical measures of retaliation” if the West maintains what he considers a “very clearly aggressive line. “.

For the Kremlin, the United States and NATO are strengthening their presence at the Russian borders by arming Ukraine, supporting it politically, carrying out maneuvers and deploying forces in the Black Sea.

Return to the negotiating table

The Westerners on the contrary accuse Moscow of aggressive inclinations, the Russian army having massed tens of thousands of soldiers on the border with Ukraine, of which Russia has already annexed part of the territory.

The German minister insisted on the need for a dialogue with the Russian authorities, using “every millimeter of its means to act”.

“Even if proposals have been made which do not constitute our basis for negotiation, we must speak together,” she stressed at a press conference. It is “important that we return to the negotiating table” with Moscow within the framework of the Normandy format, which brings together Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia.

It is also necessary to use “the possibility offered within the framework of the NATO-Russia council” to “speak together and to contribute so that we can prevent a new escalation”.

With AFP