(Berlin) German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday expressed “great concern” after Vladimir Putin pledged a “military and technical” response from Russia if his Western rivals did not end their policies considered threatening.
“My concern is great”, because the words of the Russian president intervened before “movements of troops” on the border with Ukraine, indicated the head of diplomacy, judging that this “serious crisis” with Moscow could not be settle only through dialogue.
Against a backdrop of growing tensions around Ukraine, the Russian head of state assured that he would take “adequate military and technical measures of retaliation” if the West maintains what he considers a “very clearly aggressive line. “.
For the Kremlin, the United States and NATO are strengthening their presence at the Russian borders by arming Ukraine, supporting it politically, carrying out maneuvers there and deploying forces in the Black Sea.
The Westerners on the contrary accuse Moscow of aggressive inclinations, the Russian army having massed tens of thousands of soldiers on the border with Ukraine, of which Russia has already annexed part of the territory.
The German minister insisted on the need for a dialogue with the Russian authorities, using “every millimeter of its means to act”.
“Even if proposals have been made which do not constitute our basis for negotiation, we must speak together”, she underlined during a press conference. It is “important that we return to the negotiating table” with Moscow within the framework of the Normandy format, which brings together Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia.
It is also necessary to use “the possibility offered within the framework of the NATO-Russia council” to “speak together and contribute so that we can prevent a further escalation”.