Ukrainian crisis: Facing Russia, United States oscillates between military and diplomatic message

Wednesday, the US administration announced the temporary redeployment of 2,700 soldiers to Poland and Romania. An more political that operational decision, which allows Washington to illustrate its firm commitment in case of offensive.

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With one hand, continue the diplomatic process. On the other hand, strengthening deterrence against any Russian operation in Ukraine. Thus, the United States in the security crisis opened by Moscow since November 2021, due to the mobilization of more than 100,000 Russian soldiers at the Western border. Wednesday 2 February, the US administration announced the temporary redeployment of 2,700 soldiers – one third of whom are already in Germany – towards Poland and Romania. This gesture is a more political that operational message addressed to NATO members belonging to the eastern side of Europe. It is for Washington to illustrate its firm commitment, beyond the preparation of drastic economic sanctions against Russia, in case of offensive. “These forces will not fight in Ukraine,” said John Kirby, the spokesman for the Department of Defense.

Diplomatically, NATO and the United States has addressed a week ago written answers to the two Treaty projects published by Moscow in mid-December 2021. The Spanish daily El Pais in A revealed the substance, Wednesday. The drafting of these documents is in itself a formal concession in Russia. On the other hand, in their content – “complementary and symmetrical”, according to Ned Price, spokesperson of the State Department -, these two texts formalize the known divergences with the Kremlin, while drawing possible subjects of reconciliation, provided that A military de-escalation is recognized. Everyone, in short, camp on his positions, while leaving a chance at miraculous diplomatic coagulation.

“Open door policy”

The Biden administration is ready to consider “arrangements or agreements” with Russia – the word treated is not mentioned, due to the indispensable approval of the Senate -, on a bilateral level. For example, it would be mutual commitment not to deploy missile and land forces systems in Ukraine. On the other hand, Washington recalls its attachment to NATO’s “open door policy”, refusing to exclude any further enlargement. It is ready to discuss with Moscow from the concept of “indivisible security”, which is in the declaration adopted at the Summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Astana, in 2010.

Washington refuses to address this concept “in isolation”, without consideration for other commitments made by OSCE members, including Russia. Vladimir Putin has made reference again, the February 1 “, to this principle. “We say that Ukraine’s accession to NATO infringes our safety, and we ask to pay attention to it,” said Russian President, while there is no question, in fact , such a membership.

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/Media reports.