American hysteria about Ukrainian crisis at its peak
The American hysteria about the Ukrainian crisis has reached its "apogee". This was declared by the Kremlin after the talks between Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden.
US President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of the “severe and rapid repercussions” that Moscow would face if attacked by Ukraine, during a phone call lasting just over an hour. Saturday between the two leaders, announced the White House.
Biden reaffirmed that an invasion “would cause considerable human suffering and weaken Russia’s position”, according to the White House.
The United States and its allies “will respond resolutely and impose severe and swift repercussions on Russia” if the latter invades Ukraine, the US executive said.
The United States and its allies, who are calling for a diplomatic solution, are “just as ready for other scenarios”, he told Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin for its part denounced an American hysteria at the “apogee” after the call.
“The hysteria has reached its peak,” said Yuri Ushakov, diplomatic adviser to Mr. Putin, during a press conference, while specifying that “the presidents have agreed to continue contacts at all levels”.
“In recent days and hours, the situation has been led to absurdity,” criticized Mr. Ushakov, saying that “the Americans are announcing the very date of the Russian invasion, and at the same time flexing the military muscles of Ukraine”.
He nevertheless noted that the conversation had “remained quite balanced and professional in nature”.
“The presidents agreed that the views expressed by Mr. Biden (would) be considered in Moscow and (would) be taken into account in our reaction” to the responses that NATO and Washington must give to Russia’s security demands.
The long-awaited exchange, which was “professional and rich”, did not however lead to “fundamental change in the dynamics that we have been observing for several weeks now”, for his part told journalists an American official. .
According to this source, Washington has put forward proposals that would “improve European security and address some of the Russian concerns”, while respecting Ukrainian sovereignty.
“We still don’t know if Russia will favor diplomacy over the use of force,” the official said, adding that the stakes were “too high not to give Russia every chance” to withdraw.
Moscow “already finds itself increasingly isolated from the rest of the world, and dependent on China,” he added.
Washington had argued Friday that an attack on Ukraine could be imminent, accusations described as “provocative” by the master of the Kremlin.
An intense diplomatic ballet took place on Saturday: before his call with Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The latter, who also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, must call the American President and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Earlier, the head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken had told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that the diplomatic channel remained “open” to avoid a conflict, but would require a “de-escalation” from Moscow.
