Putin Says West ‘Basically Ignored’ His Demands in Ukraine Standoff

Russia has deployed about 100,000 troops in close proximity to Ukraine, triggering alarm in Western capitals that Mr. Putin plans to invade his smaller neighbor, which he has asserted can only be actually sovereign in partnership with Russia. Mr. Putin denies any these intention.

In reaction, Washington has outlined a series of punitive sanctions it would impose if Russia encroaches on Ukraine, stepped up shipments of armed service aid to Kyiv and set 1000’s of soldiers on notify to defend NATO’s jap flank in the function of a conflict.

The State Section on Monday purchased relatives members of U.S. govt staff members in Belarus to depart the country, just a week just after sending house dependents of diplomats in Kyiv as properly as some team.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President

Volodymyr Zelensky

met in Kyiv with Primary Minister

Boris Johnson

of Britain and Polish Key Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, declaring the 3 nations have been doing the job to set up a partnership that was “creating a new structure of political cooperation in Europe.”

The U.K. and Poland have been active in rallying global guidance for Ukraine and have agreed to source army assist.

Mr. Zelensky also said he has requested an raise in troop figures that would boost the dimension of the Ukrainian military in an exertion to discourage any hostile steps by Russia. “This decree isn’t for the reason that war is coming. This decree is so that peace, peace in Ukraine, continues,” he stated.

Also on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State

Antony Blinken

and Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke, and they are predicted to do so all over again quickly soon after Russia responds to a slate of proposals on European safety arrangements that the U.S. sent to the Kremlin last thirty day period, U.S. officials mentioned.

White Dwelling press secretary

Jen Psaki

explained the Biden administration is open to further talks, and 1 U.S. official explained Russia’s willingness to go on conversations indicates a route remains open to arrangement on main protection challenges.

Point out Department spokesman

Ned Selling price

declined to remark on Mr. Putin’s remarks, declaring the U.S. would await the official reaction from Moscow.

Mr. Price said that the U.S. experienced sought to deal with Russia’s concerns, but “that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Russians will agree with the way in which they were being addressed.”

The U.S. thinks chances keep on being for diplomatic breakthroughs, Mr. Rate stated, but a number of of Russia’s demands, such as some that impinge on an additional nation’s sovereignty or territorial integrity are “nonstarters.”

Moscow has demanded that NATO agree to stop adding new members in Japanese Europe and cease deploying weapons or troops close to Russia’s borders. Washington has rejected this kind of requires as violating NATO’s open-doorway plan, the basic principle of sovereignty and the flexibility of nations to choose their associates.

In his initially public remarks on the Ukraine crisis since December, Mr. Putin on Tuesday recurring problems about NATO’s existence in Poland, Romania and the Baltics, and stated Moscow has major concerns about Ukraine signing up for the U.S.-led alliance.

“Hopefully we will sooner or later locate a solution—although it isn’t basic, we are aware of this,” Mr. Putin explained to the press meeting. “But now I am not completely ready to chat, of course, about what it will be.”

The Russian leader explained that when the West maintains that individual countries ought to choose their individual safety preparations, the U.S. “does not treatment a lot about Ukraine’s security.”

“Their principal task is to contain Russia’s advancement,” he stated. “In this sense, Ukraine alone is just a instrument to achieve this aim.”

Meanwhile, in Kyiv, Messrs. Johnson and Morawiecki expressed their backing for Ukraine.

“We have to deal with a grim truth,” Mr. Johnson reported. “As we stand right here today…more than 100,000 Russian troops are on your border in perhaps the greatest demonstration of hostility towards Ukraine in our lifetimes.”

The U.K. very last month shipped 1000’s of antitank missiles to Ukraine and British troops are helping train Ukrainian company members. Mr. Johnson declared 88 million pounds, equal to $119 million, of additional U.K. funding to aid excellent governance and strength independence in Ukraine.

Mr. Johnson dismissed recommendations that Western warnings about the Russian buildup are extreme, arguing that enabling Russia to dictate conditions to Ukraine could place at danger the whole of the European security architecture proven since Environment War II.

“This is a distinct and existing risk. We see a big variety of troops massed,” he stated. “The U.K. will be judged by the folks of Ukraine and other nations around the world dependent on how we act.”

He claimed sanctions drafted by the U.K. versus Russia will be activated “the second the very first Russian toecap crosses into Ukrainian territory.”

Poland on Tuesday claimed it was inclined to deliver tens of 1000’s of artillery shells and ammunition, GROM surface-to-air missiles, mild infantry mortars and surveillance drones, as nicely as other gear aimed at shoring up Ukraine’s defenses and sending a sign to Moscow.

Mr. Morawiecki, the Polish chief, claimed in Kyiv on Tuesday that “this is a minute in which all of Europe and the Western environment should unite around the cause of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

Mr. Morawiecki also urged Germany not to launch the Nord Stream 2 fuel pipeline connecting Russia with Germany, citing it as a really serious security possibility.

“Through launching this pipeline, Berlin is loading for Putin the pistol with which he can blackmail the whole of Europe,” he said.

Corrections & Amplifications
U.K. Key Minister Boris Johnson introduced 88 million kilos of added funding for Ukraine. An earlier model of this post improperly gave the determine as 88 billion lbs. (Corrected on Feb. 2)

Produce to Courtney McBride at [email protected]