Russia keeps blaming Ukraine
Russia’s claim to feel threatened by Ukraine – a smaller and still developing democracy – is “hard to understand” said U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman at a Press conference at NATO Headquarters, in Brussels, Belgium on Jan 12.
Sherman questioned the Russian Federation’s need for 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s border when Russia is “a very powerful country” with “the largest conventional military in Europe”. Russia is also the largest global nuclear power along with the U.S.; is a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, and is “a big country with vast land territory.”
“What is this about?” asked Sherman. “Is it about invasion? Is it about intimidation? Is it about trying to be subversive? I don't know; but it’s not conducive to getting to diplomatic solutions during present talks”,
Sherman added.
U.S. take on this week’s high-stakes talks
U.S. Undersecretary Victoria Nuland gave a press conference earlier this week to outline how the present situation of talks this week came about.
In her words “It’s Russia that created this crisis. It’s Russia that has amassed 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders. It is Russia that has prepared internal sabotage, destabilisation and false flag operations for Ukraine. It is Russia that has spewed disinformation and lies about Ukraine, and also lies about the United States and NATO to try to justify its illegal actions in the theatre of public opinion”.
She went on to make the point that Ukraine is not the aggressor in this situation, adding that Russia invaded Crimea in 2014 and continues to wage war on Ukrainian territory today.
It’s Russia's aggression against Ukraine that has unified Western support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity in present times and in present talks.
Nuland underlined that NATO is a defensive alliance that exists to protect its members; and that NATO poses no threat to the Russian Federation if Russia does not threaten NATO. She reiterated that only NATO members and applicant countries may decide on NATO membership, and that no other country is entitled to partake in a pending membership conversation or to attempt to veto it.
The U.S. will not take any decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine being involved, and no decisions relating to NATO, the European Union or the OSCE without full discussion, said Nuland. She made the point that diplomacy is ongoing intensively and that U.S. leaders have had hundreds of calls and meetings recently in connection with supporting Ukraine’s lawful rights and deterring further Russian aggression.
Nuland made clear that diplomatic progress through dialogue can only aid progress in an atmosphere of de-escalation, and with a commitment from Russia “to stay at the table and take concrete steps to reduce tensions”.
“NATO allies spoke in complete unity in support of a set of critical international principles; that all countries must be able to choose their own foreign policy orientation; and that sovereignty and territorial integrity are sacrosanct and must be respected. All nations are and must be free to choose their own alliances,” stated Sherman after the NATO Russia Council meeting on Jan. 12.
The Russian ambassador’s response
Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov was quoted in the Russian news agency RIA after the talks as saying “We presented our initiatives to move the situation out of the current crisis. On Jan. 10, we explained to them in Geneva, and on Jan. 12, within the framework of the Russia-NATO Council in Brussels. We are waiting for an adequate response, but not in the form of populist statements, but well-reasoned written proposals.”
He reportedly added that “the imminent invasion of Ukraine” is a myth launched by American politicians.
Where to from here?
Sherman indicated that NATO allies offered ideas to Russia as part of a progress pathway, including reciprocal actions that would strengthen common security, and on the topics of arms control, risk reduction, improved communication and greater transparency.
She added that she hoped Russian representatives to the U.S., NATO and the OSCE would return to Moscow after meetings this week in Geneva, Brussels and Vienna, to present the united view of all Western Allies to President Putin that the preferred path towards satisfactory solutions is through dialogue and diplomacy.
However, Sherman stressed that if Russia walks away from solution-focused talks, “it will be quite apparent they were never serious about pursuing diplomacy at all.” In that eventuality, NATO members and partners are collectively prepared for what may come next, however precarious that may be.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg chaired the meeting of the NATO Russia Council and welcomed it as “a timely opportunity for dialogue at a critical moment for European security. When tensions are high, it is even more important that we sit down around the same table and address our respective concerns.”
After the meeting Stoltenberg tweeted “The NATO–Russia Council had a serious exchange on Russia’s military build-up in & around Ukraine & implications for European security. NATO Allies & Russia agreed to explore a schedule of future meetings. Allies are ready to table proposals and to seek constructive outcomes.”
