Putin speaks out on Ukraine crisis

Mr Putin held a press conference on Tuesday local time following a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, and used the opportunity to lament the West for failing to meet Russia’s security demands.Mr Putin told reporters that he hopes Moscow and the West will find a solution to the raging security crisis over Ukraine, but also accused Washington of using Kiev as a “tool” to contain Russia.“I hope that in the end we will find this solution, although it will not be simple,” Mr Putin said, though he added that Washington’s main goal was “to contain Russia, and Ukraine is just a tool to get us involved in some armed conflict.”US President Joe Biden has accused Russia of plans to invade Ukraine imminently with its troops massed on the border and warned of severe economic sanctions if it does.Russia denies any plans to invade but is demanding that Ukraine never be allowed to join NATO as well as a series of other security guarantees.The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, told reporters that Russian officials were still drafting a response to American security proposals aimed at de-escalating the Ukraine crisis, and that they would be ready as soon as Mr Putin “sees fit.”Mr Biden has announced plans to send US troops to NATO countries in eastern Europe, though not to Ukraine itself, which is not a member of the transatlantic alliance.Earlier on Tuesday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Mr Putin in the Kremlin, pledging cooperation with Moscow for years to come in a trip criticised by his EU allies.Mr Orban travelled to Moscow despite Hungary’s opposition accusing him of betraying national interests in doing so and with fears growing in the West of a Russian attack on Ukraine.Mr Orban, who has led NATO-member Hungary since 2010, has maintained friendly relations with Mr Putin while presiding over deteriorating ties with Brussels.“This is our 13th meeting. That is a rarity. Practically all those who were my colleagues in the EU are no longer,” Mr Orban said, sitting opposite Mr Putin in the Kremlin.Although he did not mention Ukraine by name, Mr Orban also claimed to be on a “peace mission”.“I would like to assure you that no EU leader wants war or conflict. We are ready for a rational agreement,” he said.Mr Putin thanked Mr Orban for “doing a lot” for the Russian-Hungarian relationship and said the pair will discuss the security situation in Europe.Warsaw has presented a united front with Budapest against Brussels on issues like the rule of law, but resents Mr Orban’s ties with Mr Putin.Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki visited Kiev on Tuesday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is backed by the West.Mr Orban has not echoed the general EU alarm over Russia’s troop buildup on Ukraine’s border.Hungary, which joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004, has taken a softer line on Ukraine, with which it shares a small land border.Hungarian Defence Minister Tibor Benko said in an interview Tuesday morning that leaders should shy away from “Cold War rhetoric”.RUSSIA’S WORRYING MOVE ON UKRAINE BORDEREarlier, Russia moved blood supplies near Ukraine’s border adding fuel to fears war is imminent.The move, first reported by Reuters on the weekend citing three US officials, would allow for the treatment of casualties should fighting erupt.Ukraine’s deputy defence minister, Hanna Maliar, said the reports were false. “Such ‘news’ is an element of information and psychological warfare. The purpose of such information is to spread panic and fear in our society,” she posted on Facebook.But a White House official told CNN Kiev is downplaying the threat.“We understand the difficult position President Zelensky is in and the pressure he’s under. But at the same time he’s downplaying the risk of invasion, he’s asking for hundreds of millions of dollars in weapons to defend against one,” the official told the network.NED-5411-Russia-Ukraine-build-upUS-RUSSIA FACE OFF AT UNRussia and the United States faced off on Monday, local time, at the UN Security Council over Moscow’s troop build-up on the Ukrainian border, as Western nations intensified their high-stakes diplomatic push to avert open conflict in Europe.With tensions soaring, the United States had vowed to push back against any “disinformation” Moscow put forward in one of the most closely watched United Nations sessions in years.The US-requested meeting came with fears growing of an imminent incursion into Ukraine, despite Kremlin denials.US President Joe Biden released a statement as the talks began, warning Russia that it was facing harsh reprisals unless it demonstrated openness to a diplomatic solution.“If Russia is sincere about addressing our respective security concerns through dialogue, the United States and our allies and partners will continue to engage in good faith,” Mr Biden said.“If instead Russia chooses to walk away from diplomacy and attack Ukraine, Russia will bear the responsibility, and it will face swift and severe consequences.” The New York Times reported that inside the UN, tempers flared to the level of a brawl with diplomats trading barbs: Russia accused the US of “an attempt to mislead the international community” while the US representative shot back, “Imagine how comfortable you would be if you had 100,000 troops sitting at your border.”Russia had tried to block the 15-member Security Council from holding the meeting at all – with its envoy to the UN Vasily Nebenzya accusing the United States Monday of trying to “whip up hysteria” by pushing the debate.But Washington’s UN envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Moscow’s troop build-up justified the meeting, and Russia’s blocking move was rejected with 10 out of 15 members backing Washington.“This is the largest … mobilisation of troops in Europe in decades,” the ambassador said. “And as we speak, Russia is sending even more forces and arms to join them.” She told the Council Russia’s military build-up had been paired with “aggressive rhetoric” as part of an escalation often seen from Russia when it seized Crimea in 2014.And she accused Russia of planning to build its military force in Belarus to 30,000 within weeks as a part of its threat to Ukraine.The United States and Britain on Sunday flagged new and “devastating” economic sanctions against Russia, as Washington and its allies step up efforts to deter any invasion.With tensions soaring, the United States said it was prepared to push back against any “disinformation” Moscow put forward in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched United Nations sessions in years.Russia on Monday is likely to try to block the 15-member council from holding its US-requested meeting, “but the Security Council is unified. Our voices are unified in calling for the Russians to explain themselves,” Washington’s UN envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield told ABC News.“We’re going to go in the room prepared to listen to them, but we’re not going to be distracted by their propaganda,” she said Sunday. “And we’re going to be prepared to respond to any disinformation that they attempt to spread during this meeting.” The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee took a tough stance, saying it was crucial Washington send a powerful message to President Vladimir Putin that any aggression against Ukraine would come at a very high cost.“Putin will not stop with Ukraine,” Senator Bob Menendez said on CNN, indicating that penalties could be levied over actions Russia has already taken in Ukraine and warned of “devastating sanctions that ultimately would crush Russia” should Moscow invade.In the face of the build-up, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the West to tone down the rhetoric.That plea, from a country also eager for Western support – particularly since Moscow seized Crimea in 2014 and began fuelling a deadly separatist conflict in the country’s east – has raised eyebrows in Washington.In London, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Britain would unveil sanctions legislation targeting “a much wider variety” of Russian economic targets.The Kremlin on Monday denounced Britain’s move as an “undisguised attack on business”.Analysts say an array of sanctions hitting Russian banks and financial institutions would not only affect daily life throughout Russia but could roil major economies in Europe and elsewhere.Western leaders are pursuing a two-pronged approach, stepping up military assistance to Ukraine but also undertaking a full-court diplomatic effort to defuse the crisis.Britain is preparing to offer NATO a “major” deployment of troops, weapons, warships and jets, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Saturday. At the same time, he is expected to speak with Putin next week.NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday welcomed the increased military support while also endorsing London’s diplomatic initiative.Canada on Sunday announced the temporary repatriation of all non-essential employees from its Kiev embassy. And its defence minister, Anita Anand, said Canadian forces in Ukraine were protectively being moved west of the Dnieper river.It comes as relations between Russia and the West are at their lowest point since the Cold War.But Russia has repeatedly denied posing a threat to the one-time Soviet republic and said Sunday it wanted “respectful” relations with the United States.Citing NATO’s presence near its border, Russia has put forward security demands to Washington and the US-led military alliance.They include a guarantee that NATO will not admit new members, in particular Ukraine, and that the United States will not establish new military bases in ex-Soviet countries.

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February 01, 2022 at 11:13PM
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Mr Putin held a press conference on Tuesday local time following a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, and used the opportunity to lament the West for failing to meet Russia’s security demands.Mr Putin told reporters that he hopes Moscow and the West will find a solution to the raging security crisis over Ukraine, but also accused Washington of using Kiev as a “tool” to contain Russia.“I hope that in the end we will find this solution, although it will not be simple,” Mr Putin said, though he added that Washington’s main goal was “to contain Russia, and Ukraine is just a tool to get us involved in some armed conflict.”US President Joe Biden has accused Russia of plans to invade Ukraine imminently with its troops massed on the border and warned of severe economic sanctions if it does.Russia denies any plans to invade but is demanding that Ukraine never be allowed to join NATO as well as a series of other security guarantees.The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, told reporters that Russian officials were still drafting a response to American security proposals aimed at de-escalating the Ukraine crisis, and that they would be ready as soon as Mr Putin “sees fit.”Mr Biden has announced plans to send US troops to NATO countries in eastern Europe, though not to Ukraine itself, which is not a member of the transatlantic alliance.Earlier on Tuesday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Mr Putin in the Kremlin, pledging cooperation with Moscow for years to come in a trip criticised by his EU allies.Mr Orban travelled to Moscow despite Hungary’s opposition accusing him of betraying national interests in doing so and with fears growing in the West of a Russian attack on Ukraine.Mr Orban, who has led NATO-member Hungary since 2010, has maintained friendly relations with Mr Putin while presiding over deteriorating ties with Brussels.“This is our 13th meeting. That is a rarity. Practically all those who were my colleagues in the EU are no longer,” Mr Orban said, sitting opposite Mr Putin in the Kremlin.Although he did not mention Ukraine by name, Mr Orban also claimed to be on a “peace mission”.“I would like to assure you that no EU leader wants war or conflict. We are ready for a rational agreement,” he said.Mr Putin thanked Mr Orban for “doing a lot” for the Russian-Hungarian relationship and said the pair will discuss the security situation in Europe.Warsaw has presented a united front with Budapest against Brussels on issues like the rule of law, but resents Mr Orban’s ties with Mr Putin.Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki visited Kiev on Tuesday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is backed by the West.Mr Orban has not echoed the general EU alarm over Russia’s troop buildup on Ukraine’s border.Hungary, which joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004, has taken a softer line on Ukraine, with which it shares a small land border.Hungarian Defence Minister Tibor Benko said in an interview Tuesday morning that leaders should shy away from “Cold War rhetoric”.RUSSIA’S WORRYING MOVE ON UKRAINE BORDEREarlier, Russia moved blood supplies near Ukraine’s border adding fuel to fears war is imminent.The move, first reported by Reuters on the weekend citing three US officials, would allow for the treatment of casualties should fighting erupt.Ukraine’s deputy defence minister, Hanna Maliar, said the reports were false. “Such ‘news’ is an element of information and psychological warfare. The purpose of such information is to spread panic and fear in our society,” she posted on Facebook.But a White House official told CNN Kiev is downplaying the threat.“We understand the difficult position President Zelensky is in and the pressure he’s under. But at the same time he’s downplaying the risk of invasion, he’s asking for hundreds of millions of dollars in weapons to defend against one,” the official told the network.NED-5411-Russia-Ukraine-build-upUS-RUSSIA FACE OFF AT UNRussia and the United States faced off on Monday, local time, at the UN Security Council over Moscow’s troop build-up on the Ukrainian border, as Western nations intensified their high-stakes diplomatic push to avert open conflict in Europe.With tensions soaring, the United States had vowed to push back against any “disinformation” Moscow put forward in one of the most closely watched United Nations sessions in years.The US-requested meeting came with fears growing of an imminent incursion into Ukraine, despite Kremlin denials.US President Joe Biden released a statement as the talks began, warning Russia that it was facing harsh reprisals unless it demonstrated openness to a diplomatic solution.“If Russia is sincere about addressing our respective security concerns through dialogue, the United States and our allies and partners will continue to engage in good faith,” Mr Biden said.“If instead Russia chooses to walk away from diplomacy and attack Ukraine, Russia will bear the responsibility, and it will face swift and severe consequences.” The New York Times reported that inside the UN, tempers flared to the level of a brawl with diplomats trading barbs: Russia accused the US of “an attempt to mislead the international community” while the US representative shot back, “Imagine how comfortable you would be if you had 100,000 troops sitting at your border.”Russia had tried to block the 15-member Security Council from holding the meeting at all – with its envoy to the UN Vasily Nebenzya accusing the United States Monday of trying to “whip up hysteria” by pushing the debate.But Washington’s UN envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Moscow’s troop build-up justified the meeting, and Russia’s blocking move was rejected with 10 out of 15 members backing Washington.“This is the largest … mobilisation of troops in Europe in decades,” the ambassador said. “And as we speak, Russia is sending even more forces and arms to join them.” She told the Council Russia’s military build-up had been paired with “aggressive rhetoric” as part of an escalation often seen from Russia when it seized Crimea in 2014.And she accused Russia of planning to build its military force in Belarus to 30,000 within weeks as a part of its threat to Ukraine.The United States and Britain on Sunday flagged new and “devastating” economic sanctions against Russia, as Washington and its allies step up efforts to deter any invasion.With tensions soaring, the United States said it was prepared to push back against any “disinformation” Moscow put forward in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched United Nations sessions in years.Russia on Monday is likely to try to block the 15-member council from holding its US-requested meeting, “but the Security Council is unified. Our voices are unified in calling for the Russians to explain themselves,” Washington’s UN envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield told ABC News.“We’re going to go in the room prepared to listen to them, but we’re not going to be distracted by their propaganda,” she said Sunday. “And we’re going to be prepared to respond to any disinformation that they attempt to spread during this meeting.” The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee took a tough stance, saying it was crucial Washington send a powerful message to President Vladimir Putin that any aggression against Ukraine would come at a very high cost.“Putin will not stop with Ukraine,” Senator Bob Menendez said on CNN, indicating that penalties could be levied over actions Russia has already taken in Ukraine and warned of “devastating sanctions that ultimately would crush Russia” should Moscow invade.In the face of the build-up, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the West to tone down the rhetoric.That plea, from a country also eager for Western support – particularly since Moscow seized Crimea in 2014 and began fuelling a deadly separatist conflict in the country’s east – has raised eyebrows in Washington.In London, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Britain would unveil sanctions legislation targeting “a much wider variety” of Russian economic targets.The Kremlin on Monday denounced Britain’s move as an “undisguised attack on business”.Analysts say an array of sanctions hitting Russian banks and financial institutions would not only affect daily life throughout Russia but could roil major economies in Europe and elsewhere.Western leaders are pursuing a two-pronged approach, stepping up military assistance to Ukraine but also undertaking a full-court diplomatic effort to defuse the crisis.Britain is preparing to offer NATO a “major” deployment of troops, weapons, warships and jets, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Saturday. At the same time, he is expected to speak with Putin next week.NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday welcomed the increased military support while also endorsing London’s diplomatic initiative.Canada on Sunday announced the temporary repatriation of all non-essential employees from its Kiev embassy. And its defence minister, Anita Anand, said Canadian forces in Ukraine were protectively being moved west of the Dnieper river.It comes as relations between Russia and the West are at their lowest point since the Cold War.But Russia has repeatedly denied posing a threat to the one-time Soviet republic and said Sunday it wanted “respectful” relations with the United States.Citing NATO’s presence near its border, Russia has put forward security demands to Washington and the US-led military alliance.They include a guarantee that NATO will not admit new members, in particular Ukraine, and that the United States will not establish new military bases in ex-Soviet countries.