Whether Russia will withdraw its troops from Belarus – in recent days, the answer to this question has rightly been considered a litmus test of Putin’s readiness to de-escalate the situation.
Why can’t Putin’s words be trusted?
The Kremlin has repeatedly assured that after the end of the maneuvers on Sunday, Russian troops will return home. So far, this has clearly not happened, which at first glance shows at least one thing: the words of the Russian leadership cannot be trusted. And the current crisis is not the first time that this serious problem has been brought to light in interaction with a former KGB officer now sitting in the Kremlin.
So: military pressure on Ukraine continues in three directions. NATO will be watching closely because Putin’s troops are operating in a country bordering three allies. Add to this the tensions in eastern Ukraine and the situation remains highly troubling. A truce is urgently needed in Donbass, which French President Macron called for on Sunday. But here, once again, it is clear that the Europeans are only trying to put out the fires started by Moscow. Yes, it is not yet possible to say with certainty whether Putin really decided to invade, as Biden claims. However, there is no doubt that Russia has already created the prerequisites for a war that Europe has not seen for a long time. And it would not be an exaggeration to say that we must prepare for refugees and gas cuts.
West, Putin and maps
At the Munich Security Conference, the West resolutely reaffirmed the threat of sanctions and strengthened its unity. There were no serious disagreements that Putin could take advantage of. Yes, Ukraine demanded that sanctions be immediately imposed, or at least clarify what they would be. And this is quite understandable, because this country is already paying a high price for Putin’s geopolitical aspirations. However, the West must act like him – and not let him peek at the cards.