At the end of a videoconferencing between the managers of the United States and several countries of the European Union, including France and Germany, they invited Moscow to de-escalation, the threatening of “very consequences Heavy “In case of aggression.
Le Monde with AFP
The leaders of the United States and several European countries whose Germany and France affirmed, on Monday, January 24, during a videoconference, their “unreserved” support to the territorial integrity of Ukraine and promised “very heavy consequences” to Russia in case “aggression” against this country.
Participants “were all of the opinion it belongs to Russia to undertake visible initiatives of de-escalation” in this conflict, indicated the spokesman of the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, at the end of this meeting to which the latter participated in particular with the leaders of the United States, France, Great Britain, Italy and Poland.
The holding of this videoconferencing had been announced a little earlier in the day by the White House at a time when some differences seemed to appear within the Western camp on the attitude to adopt against Russia.
This concerns in particular Berlin, very criticized by Ukraine for its refusal, in particular to deliver arms, same defensives, unlike the United States, Great Britain or the Baltic Countries.
In the same way, the countries of the European Union have not yet decreed the departure of part of their diplomatic staff from Ukraine, while Washington and London made ads to that effect.
“Credit and credible warnings”
At the end of the meeting, Joe Biden assured that there was a “total unanimity with European leaders” in the Ukrainian crisis. For its part, the French President has in a statement indicated that “de-escalation must go through the expression of firm and credible warnings with respect to Russia, which requires constant coordination between the European partners and the allies” .
During their videoconferencing, to which the Secretary General of NATO also participated, the Western leaders expressed their “great concern” against the grouping of Russian troops on the eastern border of Ukraine and accused Moscow to be at the origin of the “current tensions”, according to the Berlin communiqué.
Nevertheless, they felt that “the issue of security and stability in Europe could be resolved by the way of negotiation.” Paris has called for “a strengthened dialogue with Russia”.
The Westerners have “reaffirmed being willing to continue diplomatic efforts”, undertaken during the month of January with several meetings between Western and Russian leaders. Unsuccessfully visible however.
In particular, the leaders mentioned the so-called Normandy discussions, which brings together representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France. The Elysee announced the holding of a meeting in this regard “at the level of the councilors in Paris on Wednesday, January 26”. Emmanuel Macron also planned to talk “in the coming days” with the Russian and Ukrainian presidents.