Ukraine: Russian ambassador’s more conciliatory tone will embolden Western diplomats as they seek compromise with Moscow | world News

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The interview of the Russian ambassador to the UK with Sky News was interesting in what he said and did not say.

He insisted that Russia had no intention of invading Ukraine. This is in the present tense. Of course, that could change if events change.

Ambassador Andrei Klein also insisted that Russian forces should be able to conduct the exercises and be able to “deter any kind of threat”. One of the biggest concerns is the cause of the bewildering war.

Ukraine: We will defend ourselves against Russia ‘until the last drop of blood’, says the country’s army chief

Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, for example, are clashing with Ukrainian forces and using this as an excuse to launch a much larger military operation. Then Russian intentions will change.

Ambassador Keelen also did a lot of NATO aggression.

He said NATO had urged Ukraine to be aggressive and “expand aggressively near our borders”.

An organization that presents itself as defensive is considered offensive by Moscow.

What is missing in the ambassador’s statements is the subtle threat that we heard yesterday here in Geneva from Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.

He warned of unspecified consequences for the security of the entire continent of Europe if the Russian demands of NATO, Eastern Europe and Ukraine were not met. That seemed ominous.

Photo: Ukrainian forces take part in military exercises in Kharkiv, Ukraine

Ambassador Killeen seemed more conciliatory than the Minister.

The fact that he did not repeat the threat will embolden Western diplomats as they continue to seek a compromise with Russia at NATO on Wednesday and with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on Thursday.

If the Kremlin wanted the specter of war to spread throughout Europe, it did not choose the ambassador to do so.

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