For the time being, the matter is one word against another word: on the one hand, Russia, which announced on Wednesday February 16 the end of military maneuvers and the departure of some of its forces from Crimea, and 100,000 of its soldiers massed on the Ukrainian borders; on the other hand, the Western countries which are waiting for concrete proof of this withdrawal.
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Tuesday evening again, Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden spoke on the phone. The American president puts the number of Russian soldiers still deployed in the region at 150,000. Suffice to say that if there is a de-escalation, it will take a while.
This information, sometimes contradictory, does not seem to disturb the inhabitants of Kiev: in the Ukrainian capital, we keep repeating it here, life goes on. And the accordionist who begs in the subway, on Maidan Square, has never stopped playing. Nadia, 69, the street vendor next door, has never given up hope and the announcement of a partial withdrawal of Russian troops only comforts her.
“That’s good news, if it’s true. For me, Russians and Ukrainians are brothers. Look us straight in the eye and shoot us, anyway, I never believed it.”
Near the presidential palace, Elena, 32, is simply enjoying the small ice rink. Suspicious, she wonders, however, what this Ukraine that she wants turned towards Europe will be able to give in exchange.
Dimitri, 38, adopts a much firmer tone. He is a veteran of the war in the Donbass. “The resolution of the conflict depends entirely on Russia, he explains. As long as Putin is alive, there will be no peaceful solution. It’s 50-50: it all depends on Russia and Putin. Whether he manages to calm down or not…” Mixed feelings therefore inhabit the Ukrainians whom franceinfo met. Some are also ready to deal with any eventuality.
This is the case, for example, of Olga, 37, who fought and made the revolution in 2014. This tension that comes and goes does not shake her and she keeps a cool head. “We were very scared in February 2014 and I don’t think we are more scared now than then. she indicates. We have already experienced this panic, this crisis, this anguish, this kind of terror, when it was really the unknown: we had no government and there was Russia right on our doorstep.
“We have already experienced the worst fear: we have already had demonstrators killed, shot in the street. I don’t think Putin can scare us more than during the revolution: that was scary.”
“Of course, I’m worried because I still have family, I have responsibilities, continues Nadia, but it’s not fear, we’re not going to drop everything and curl up and be scared, right? Above all, you have to be prepared. Panic plays especially for Russia. You have to think about what to do, every day, if something happens: do I keep some cash on me? Do I put gas in the car? Did I call my grandparents to tell them what we do if we ever have to leave town? We will prepare for the defense.”
The Ukrainian President called on the population to show patriotism. This Tuesday is a day of national unity: the invasion has not started, and for now, the accordionist from Maidan Square can still continue to play.