World Desk, AnyTV, Moscow
Published by: Harendra Chaudhary
Updated Mon, 21 Feb 2022 05:35 PM IST
Summary
Public opinion in Germany has also turned against the expansion of NATO. In a recent poll, 53 percent of people opposed the inclusion of Ukraine in NATO. Experts say that the German government and its people are not in favor of risking their energy security over the issue of Ukraine.
The focus is now on the mediation of French President Emmanuel Macron in the Ukraine dispute. Initially Macron’s efforts seem to be successful. Macron’s achievement is considered to be a special achievement by persuading US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin for direct talks on this issue on Sunday. America has made a condition that these direct talks will take place only if Russia does not attack Ukraine by then. It is understood that only after taking Putin’s consent on this, France announced the program of the proposed talks.
Danger averted for the time being
Direct talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are scheduled for February 24. It has been told that after that there will be a summit between the two countries. It is estimated that the threat of an attack on Ukraine is averted at least until the summit takes place. Observers say that if there is a way to reduce tensions further, it will raise Macron’s profile in international affairs.
Analysts are of the opinion that the recent release of a document and the making of public statements by some former US diplomats has created an uncomfortable situation for the US. This has also created public opinion in Europe against escalating tensions with Russia. The German newspaper Der Spiegel has published a 1991 document. According to him, on March 6 of that year, the officials of America, France, Britain, and Germany had a meeting with the officials of the then Soviet Union. In it, the four western countries had assured the Soviet Union that after the unification of East and West Germany, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) would not be expanded even an inch.
German diplomat Jurgen Chrobog, who attended that meeting, confirmed the assurance given to Russia in that meeting in an interview to a newspaper. The same thing has also been said by Jack Matlock, who was the US ambassador to the Soviet Union at that time, in an interview given to a TV channel. In the latest controversy, Putin is constantly accusing Western countries of blasphemy in the matter of NATO expansion.
Western countries are not united against Russia
Meanwhile, public opinion in Germany has also turned against the expansion of NATO. In a recent poll, 53 percent of people opposed the inclusion of Ukraine in NATO. Experts say that the German government and its people are not in favor of risking their energy security over the issue of Ukraine. Russia is a major source of petroleum and natural gas for Germany and many other European countries. Even in France, there is no enthusiasm among the public about the American plan. It is said that due to these reasons Western countries are failing to open a united front against Russia.
In this background, Macron did diplomacy at a stormy pace on Sunday. Apart from Biden and Putin, he also spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. His efforts have had early results. Now observers are watching whether they will really come up with a formula that will reduce this tension permanently.
Expansion
The focus is now on the mediation of French President Emmanuel Macron in the Ukraine dispute. Initially Macron’s efforts seem to be successful. Macron’s achievement is considered to be a special achievement by persuading US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin for direct talks on this issue on Sunday. America has made a condition that these direct talks will take place only if Russia does not attack Ukraine by then. It is understood that only after taking Putin’s consent on this, France announced the program of the proposed talks.
Danger averted for the time being
Direct talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are scheduled for February 24. It has been told that after that there will be a summit between the two countries. It is estimated that the threat of an attack on Ukraine is averted at least until the summit takes place. Observers say that if there is a way to reduce tensions further, it will raise Macron’s profile in international affairs.
Analysts are of the opinion that the recent release of a document and the making of public statements by some former US diplomats has created an uncomfortable situation for the US. This has also created public opinion in Europe against escalating tensions with Russia. The German newspaper Der Spiegel has published a 1991 document. According to him, on March 6 of that year, the officials of America, France, Britain, and Germany had a meeting with the officials of the then Soviet Union. In it, the four western countries had assured the Soviet Union that after the unification of East and West Germany, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) would not be expanded even an inch.
German diplomat Jurgen Chrobog, who attended that meeting, confirmed the assurance given to Russia in that meeting in an interview to a newspaper. The same thing has also been said by Jack Matlock, who was the US ambassador to the Soviet Union at that time, in an interview given to a TV channel. In the latest controversy, Putin is constantly accusing Western countries of blasphemy in the matter of NATO expansion.
Western countries are not united against Russia
Meanwhile, public opinion in Germany has also turned against the expansion of NATO. In a recent poll, 53 percent of people opposed the inclusion of Ukraine in NATO. Experts say that the German government and its people are not in favor of risking their energy security over the issue of Ukraine. Russia is a major source of petroleum and natural gas for Germany and many other European countries. Even in France, there is no enthusiasm among the public about the American plan. It is said that due to these reasons Western countries are failing to open a united front against Russia.
In this background, Macron did diplomacy at a stormy pace on Sunday. Apart from Biden and Putin, he also spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. His efforts have had early results. Now observers are watching whether they will really come up with a formula that will reduce this tension permanently.