Diplomatic efforts marked by a frenzy of phone calls on Saturday between Western leaders and Moscow failed to ease tensions around Ukraine, with the Kremlin denouncing US “hysteria” and Joe Biden threatening Vladimir Putin with “harsh and fast” in the event of an attack.
Washington insisted on Friday on the risk of an “imminent” invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which has massed more than 100,000 soldiers near the border and has just begun military maneuvers in the Black Sea and in Belarus, framing de facto the country.
Such an invasion would have “rapid and severe” consequences for Russia, Joe Biden warned on Saturday during an interview with his Russian counterpart. It “would cause considerable human suffering and weaken the position of Russia”, according to the White House.
“The hysteria has reached its peak”, then commented the diplomatic adviser to Vladimir Putin, Yuri Ushakov, while specifying that the two presidents had agreed “to continue contacts at all levels”.
This exchange did not “lead to fundamental change”, recognized an American official on condition of anonymity. According to him, “we still do not know if Russia will favor diplomacy over the use of force”.
Same observation in Paris, after an interview between President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart: “Our feeling is that Vladimir Poutine remains on the same bases […] in a demanding, provocative state of mind, taking care nevertheless to keep all options open”.
“Weapons Delivery”
Since the first troop deployments near Ukraine in November, Moscow has denied any intention of invading, but has called for an end to NATO expansion and an end to Western support for the country, which it considers as part of its sphere of influence.
During his discussion with the French President, Vladimir Putin criticized the “large-scale deliveries of modern armaments” to his neighbor, believing that they created “preconditions for possible aggressive actions by Ukrainian forces” in the East Ukraine, where Russia has supported armed separatists for eight years.
Mr. Macron reiterated to him the “determination to react” of Westerners in the event of a Russian military operation, and that he was going to continue his diplomatic efforts by calling Joe Biden this Saturday as well as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky .
Beyond the presidents, the intense diplomatic exchanges consisted on Saturday of calls between the heads of Russian diplomacy Sergei Lavrov and American Antony Blinken, who also spoke with his British counterpart Liz Truss. The American and Russian Ministers of Defense, Lloyd Austin and Sergei Shoigu, also exchanged.
The German Chancellor is to take up the torch, going to Kiev on Monday and Moscow on Tuesday.
Do not panic
At the same time, the list of countries calling on their nationals to leave Ukraine continues to grow, including the United States, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada, Norway or even Australia, Japan and Israel.
The KLM airline announced on Saturday the suspension of flights to Ukraine until further notice.
Moscow also recalled some of its diplomatic staff, claiming to fear adverse “provocations”.
The United States also ordered the departure of most of the personnel of the American embassy in Kyiv, noting that a Russian offensive could “begin at any time and without warning”. Some 160 American soldiers who were training Ukrainian forces were also ordered to leave.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his part once again deemed the American statements too alarmist.
“All this information (about a possible attack) only causes panic and does not help us,” he said.
In Kiev, thousands of demonstrators marched on Saturday, saying they refused to give in to panic precisely, even if they took the threat seriously.
“Panic is useless. We must unite and fight for our independence,” said student Maria Chtcherbenko, holding a sign “I remain calm. I love Ukraine”.
Outgoing calls
Adding to the tensions, Russia launched new naval maneuvers in the Black Sea on Saturday to practice “defending” the Crimea, a peninsula annexed in 2014. The Ministry of Defense also claimed that the Russian navy had hunted a sub-marine. American sailor from its waters in the Pacific Ocean on Saturday.
Westerners rule out committing their armies in the event of war, but have planned devastating economic reprisals.
This crisis is, according to Westerners, the most dangerous in Europe since the end of the Cold War.
The White House has already outlined the scenario for the Russian offensive, citing probable “aerial bombardment and missile fire” and a possible assault on the capital Kiev.