..
U.S. sends Moscow diplomatic path for averting war in Ukraine
By Rich Klein
In a State Department news conference Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States
is committed to uphold and defend Ukraine's sovereignty. File Photo by Toms Kalnins/EPA-EFE
Jan. 26 (UPI) -- The United States delivered a paper to Moscow on Wednesday, laying out a diplomatic path to avert war amid Russia's buildup of military troops on Ukraine's border, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
In a State Department news conference, Blinken said the United States is committed to uphold and defend Ukraine's sovereignty.
"We prefer diplomacy, and we're prepared to move forward where there is the possibility of communication cooperation if Russia de-escalates its aggression toward Ukraine, stops the inflammatory rhetoric and approaches discussions about the future security in Europe in a spirit of reciprocity."
Of course, if the USA and NATO abided by those rules, there would be no need for discussion.
Blinken said the document, delivered to Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, included input from Ukraine and European allies and partners.
"All told, It sets out a serious diplomatic path forward should Russia choose it," he said.
Russia has demanded security guarantees as NATO expands in Eastern Europe.
The proposal also addresses other areas of potential for progress, "including arms control related to missiles in Europe...our interest in a follow-on agreement to a new START treaty that covers all nuclear weapons."
Blinken said NATO was going to develop and deliver its own paper to Moscow, but that "there's no daylight between the U.S. and its allies and partners on these matters."
He said the State Department was not going to release the paper publicly "because we think diplomacy has best chance to succeed if we provide space for confidential talks. We hope and expect Russia has same view and will take proposal seriously."
In recent weeks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has placed more than 100,000 troops and military equipment at multiple borders with Ukraine.
The Pentagon announced Monday it has put up to 8,500 U.S. troops on heightened alert to deploy to Eastern Europe.
Earlier Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament it would not sit by as the West moved weapons to Ukraine.
"It would suffice to mention the increasingly provocative exercises held near our borders, the drawing of the Kiev regime into the NATO orbit, its supply with lethal weapons, and the push for its direct provocations against the Russian Federation," according to a transcript of his remarks reported by the Washington Post.
Meanwhile, in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron is involved in talks with Germany, Russia and Ukraine about the crisis.
Wouldn't it be incredible if Macron, who is president of the EU right now, could pull Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Kiev, and Moscow together for a peaceful settlement while completely circumventing Washington and NATO? I have been saying for years that NATO is obsolete, and has been running around the world looking for a reason to be. As such, it has become, in my humble opinion, the greatest threat to peace in the world.
Niece of presidential candidate to back rival
Marion Marechal, a former MP and niece of Marine Le Pen,
hinted at backing Eric Zemmour for president
Speaking to Le Parisien on Thursday evening, Marion Marechal, a former MP for the far-right National Rally (‘Rassemblement national’) party, said she would not be backing her aunt, Marine Le Pen, as she runs for president in April.
Marechal, a darling of the far right who became the country’s youngest MP at the age of 22 back in 2012, suggested that polemicist-cum-politician Éric Zemmour may receive her backing.
Supporting Zemmour, she said, “it would not just be a question of passing by and saying hello. It would mean returning to politics.” Marechal has not been an MP since 2018.
She left politics, apparently, to open a private school. Was there an issue with Auntie Marine back then?
“It is a true life choice to make, a decision that weighs heavily,” she added, noting that she would make a decision on pledging her support within a month.
Speaking on Friday, Marechal said she would be returning to politics. “I was very happy to stop five years ago, but now I want to return to politics,” she told Le Figaro.
Le Pen, candidate of the National Rally party, said she was disappointed and confused by her niece’s move.
“I have a special story with Marion because I raised her with my sister during the first years of her life, so obviously it’s brutal, it’s violent, it’s difficult for me,” she said on Friday morning.
“She [Maréchal] had indicated that she would support whoever is best placed. Unquestionably, I am much better placed today than Eric Zemmour since I am given in the second round,” she stated, referencing poll data.
Le Pen, who faced off with President Emmanuel Macron in the second round of voting in 2017, is facing stiff competition from other right-wing candidates, including Zemmour.
But if the right-wing is divided, as it appears to be, then there should be nothing stopping Macron from returning as President. It also means another 'also-ran' for Marine Le Pen. How many more can she stand? I'm surprised Marion isn't waiting in the wings to take over.
Hungary does not need NATO reinforcements
amid Ukraine standoff – minister
Budapest continues to oppose Ukraine’s NATO aspirations,
as it deems Kiev’s actions “unacceptable” for the alliance
Hungary doesn’t need any NATO troops deployed to its territory amid the ongoing Ukraine standoff, Defense Minister Tibor Benko told local broadcaster InfoRadio in an interview on Thursday.
The official confirmed reports that the US and NATO have been negotiating with all the member states bordering Russia, Ukraine, or both, on additional deployments of troops from the bloc. Budapest, however, believes its own military is capable of providing all the security it needs, without any help from NATO troops.
“Hungary has already created such a national force, developed such national capabilities that in the current situation it is not necessary to rely on other foreign forces and troops,” Benko stated.
In current situation, we do not consider it appropriate – nor do we ask for – the NATO reinforcements to be deployed here. We can handle this.
US President Joe Biden on Friday told reporters that America will increase its military presence in Eastern Europe, deploying a small number of additional troops in the region “in the near term.”
The move comes amid heightened tensions over Ukraine, which is supposedly the target of an allegedly looming Russian invasion, according to Western media and top officials. Moscow has consistently denied such claims, insisting it has zero intent of attacking the neighboring country.
Hungary’s defense minister also reiterated his country’s opposition to Ukraine’s aspirations of joining NATO. While Budapest originally supported the move, its stance changed as Kiev demonstrated behavior “unacceptable” for a potential member of the alliance, Benko explained.
“Ukraine acted against the Hungarians living in Transcarpathia, and behaved unacceptably for the alliance. After that, the government maintains the position that Ukraine is not ready to join, as it does not meet the standards of NATO,” Benko stated.
Kiev and Budapest have long been at odds over the treatment of the ethnic Hungarian minority living in the western Ukrainian region of Zakarpatye. The region remained under Hungarian rule until the early 20th century, changing hands several times and ending up as part of the Soviet Union after World War II. Relations between Ukraine and Hungary rapidly deteriorated after post-Maidan Kiev authorities adopted a controversial education law, which heavily restricted the rights of ethnic minorities to be taught in schools in their native language.
In late 2018, the row escalated when Ukrainian media aired footage purporting to show a Hungarian consul handing out the country’s passports to ethnic Hungarians living in western Ukraine. The scandal – aggravated by the fact that holding dual citizenship is technically illegal under Ukrainian law – resulted in expulsions of diplomats and a heated war of words between the two nations.
No comments:
Post a Comment