A Ukrainian soldier at a border crossing with Russia, 40 km from the eastern city of Kharkiv, on February 16, 2022 (AFP / Sergey BOBOK)
The White House said Wednesday that Russia had not withdrawn troops from Ukraine’s border but instead added up to 7,000 troops to the country’s gates, heightening fears of a Moscow-led invasion.
“Yesterday (Tuesday), the Russians announced that they were withdrawing troops from the border with Ukraine (…). We now know that this is false,” said a senior White House official who has requested anonymity Wednesday evening from journalists.
“In fact, we have now confirmed that in recent days Russia has increased its presence along the Ukrainian border by up to 7,000 soldiers, some of whom arrived today” (Wednesday), he continued. .
According to this official, if Russia has said it wants to find a diplomatic solution, “its actions indicate the opposite”.
Joining the United States and NATO, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had seen no signs of a decrease in the concentration of Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders, saying he had simply observed “small rotations”.
On Wednesday, he attended major military exercises in the west of the country and then traveled east to Mariupol, near the frontline with pro-Russian separatists backed by Moscow.
“We are not afraid of any prognosis, we are not afraid of anyone (…) because we are going to defend ourselves”, launched Mr. Zelensky, dressed in a military uniform on the occasion of the “Day of unity” which he had decreed.
– Diplomatic Ballet –
A giant Ukrainian flag unfurled in Kyiv to celebrate Unity Day, February 16, 2022 (AFP/SERGEI CHUZAVKOV)
Westerners have been worried for weeks about the risks of an attack on Ukraine by Russia, which has massed more than 100,000 soldiers on the borders of this country, an explosive situation at the heart of the worst crisis with Moscow since the end of the Cold War.
While increasing diplomatic negotiations, Americans and Europeans have warned that massive economic sanctions were ready in the event of Moscow taking action, which denies any desire to invade.
In a telephone conversation on Wednesday evening, US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed that “Russia must take real de-escalation measures” and “expect extremely serious consequences”. if it attacks Ukraine, according to a statement from Berlin.
On the sidelines of the Security Conference in Munich on Saturday, US Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and hold talks with numerous European officials, a senior White House official announced on Wednesday.
For their part, the Heads of State and Government of the Twenty-Seven will hold discussions on Thursday on the evolution of tensions around Ukraine, before the start of a summit between the EU and the Union. in Brussels, a spokesman for the European Council announced on Wednesday.
– “New normal in Europe” –
The Russian army announced on Wednesday the end of exercises and the departure of soldiers from the annexed peninsula of Crimea, publishing a video claiming to show wagons loaded with military equipment leaving the night zone.
Photo provided by the Russian Defense Ministry on February 16, 2022 showing military trucks crossing the bridge linking annexed Crimea with Russia (Russian Defense Ministry/Handout)
Belarus also promised on Wednesday that all Russian soldiers deployed on its territory as part of maneuvers would leave the country at the scheduled end of these exercises, on February 20.
But, before the last American statements, NATO was already saying that it did not see the announced de-escalation.
“On the contrary, it appears that Russia continues to strengthen its military presence,” said its secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, earlier.
Map showing Russian troop deployment on Ukrainian borders and Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian military installations (AFP/)
He said NATO would further strengthen its military presence on its eastern flank in the face of Russian threats, which have now become “the new normal in Europe”.
Russia still concentrates “as many forces” around Ukraine, also said the head of French diplomacy Jean-Yves Le Drian.
– Flags unfurled –
Moscow deplores the rejection by the West of its main demands, such as the end of the policy of enlargement of the Alliance, in particular to Ukraine, and the withdrawal of NATO’s military infrastructure from Eastern Europe. ‘Is.
For their part, the West has proposed talks on other subjects, such as arms control.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends military exercises near Rivne, February 16, 2022 (Ukrainian Defense Ministry Press Service/Handout)
Alongside claims of partial troop withdrawal, Moscow opened a new front with a parliamentary vote on Tuesday calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to recognize the independence of separatist territories in Ukraine.
It would be a “gross violation of international law”, warned Wednesday Antony Blinken.
In the streets of Kiev, many flags were visible on the occasion of the “Day of Unity” decreed by Mr. Zelensky, which minimizes the risk of an invasion.
Symbolically, several wealthy Ukrainians announced their return to the country after a call from the Head of State. Ukraine’s richest man, oligarch Rinat Akhmetov, also visited Mariupol, announcing more than $1 billion in investments there for 2022.