The diplomatic ballet to try to find a solution to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis continues on Monday with a visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Kiev, who will then meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
The last chance mission for Olaf Scholz? The German government refuses to comment on US reports that Vladimir Putin could launch an offensive against Ukraine on Wednesday the day after the German Chancellor’s visit. But Berlin recognizes this: Our concerns have increased, the situation is critical, very dangerous “. Germany asked its nationals on Saturday to leave Ukraine, our correspondent in Berlin recalls, Pascal Thibault.
A week ago, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Moscow before going to Kiev. The Chancellor will do the opposite. In the Ukrainian capital, Olaf Scholz will not meet requests for arms deliveries, but Berlin could increase its economic support, the second from a foreign power since 2014 behind the United States.
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Berlin is not expecting a turn when Olaf Scholz visits Moscow on Tuesday. The Chancellor repeated on Sunday that Russian aggression would lead to tough sanctions against Moscow. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, freshly re-elected, who had to manage as Minister of Foreign Affairs the consequences of the annexation of Crimea was very clear : “ A war threatens Europe. Russia bears the responsibility. A statement that contrasts with those more cautious and often criticized by Olaf Scholz.
” A scent of Munich in the air »
This German Chancellor’s tour begins when tension is at its height, with 130,000 Russian soldiers massed on the Ukrainian border carrying out all-out maneuvers, and despite intense diplomatic activity. British Defense Minister Ben Wallace thus judged that there was ” a scent of Munich in the air », in reference to the 1938 agreement with Nazi Germany which could not prevent the Second World War.
In a telephone interview on Sunday evening, Joe Biden and his counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to pursue “diplomacy” and “deterrence” against Moscow. The Ukrainian president also invited the tenant of the White House to come to Kiev. ” I am convinced that your visit to Kyiv in the coming days (…) would be a strong signal and would help to stabilize the situation. “, did he declare.
Washington, for its part, made no reference to this invitation in its report of the conversation, during which Joe Biden again promised a response “ quick and resolute of the United States, in coordination with their allies, in the event of a Russian attack.
(and with AFP)