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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has
consistently aired his skepticism at warnings by the U.S. and some of
its allies that intelligence shows a move by Russia could come soon, as
he strives to prevent panic at home and emphasizes the need for
diplomacy to resolve the situation. Russia
has repeatedly denied the U.S. accusations, labeling them “hysteria,”
even as it stages huge military drills in Belarus near Ukraine and in
the Black Sea. President Vladimir Putin is keeping up pressure for the
West to meet his demands for security guarantees related to NATO. Today’s
announcement follows Putin’s endorsement of a proposal by his foreign
minister to continue talks with the West. That offers some encouragement
that a military de-escalation may be starting rather than a countdown
to war. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in Moscow today, the latest
Western leader to engage with Putin on the crisis. At
least 300,000 troops still confront each other across the border.
Russia's lower house of parliament voted today to appeal to Putin to
recognize separatist-held areas of eastern Ukraine, a move that
potentially raises tensions further. But the
Kremlin may take pleasure in showing the joke’s on Ukraine’s allies
this week by disproving those intelligence warnings of war. — Anthony Halpin |