America is trying to draw Russia into a war in Ukraine, Putin claims

America is trying to draw Russia into a war in Ukraine in order to impose tough sanctions and ‘contain’ its progress, Putin claims after massing 130,000 troops on the border

  • Vladimir Putin has accused the US of trying to draw Russia into a war in Ukraine 
  • Conflict would be used to sanction Russia and ‘contain’ its development, he said
  • War can be averted with diplomacy but only if the Kremlin’s demands about NATO expansion are taken seriously, Putin added
  • Comes after he massed 130,000 troops near Ukraine, sparking invasion fears 

Vladimir Putin has accused the US of trying to draw Russia into a war in Ukraine as a pretext for imposing harsh sanctions on his country. 

The Russian president charged Washington with using Ukraine as an ‘instrument’ to bully Russia and ‘contain’ its development, while ignoring legitimate security fears.

Putin, who has rarely spoken since the Ukraine standoff began in November, said on Tuesday that he hopes a diplomatic solution to the crisis can still be found.

But, he added, that will only happen if the ‘interests and security of all parties, including Ukraine, European nations and Russia’ are respected.  

Russia has massed some 130,000 troops on Ukraine’s border over the last two months, triggering warnings from Washington that an invasion could be imminent. 

America is trying to draw Russia into a war in Ukraine as an excuse to slap the country with sanctions, Putin has claimed (pictured, Ukraine’s territorial defence forces in training)

Putin demanded that his security concerns – including that Ukraine never be allowed to join NATO – be taken seriously (pictured, Russian troops take part in live-fire drills)

Russia has massed some 130,000 troops on Ukraine’s border, triggering warnings from Washington of an ‘imminent’ invasion (pictured, Ukrainian armoured personnel carriers)

Putin, in a rare statement on the crisis Tuesday, said diplomacy can still resolve the crisis but the West must start taking Russian security concerns seriously

The US has pressured its allies in Europe to step up their support for the ex-Soviet state, including threats of sanctions should Russia invade and shipments of military aid to help Kiev defend itself.

Meanwhile, high-level diplomatic talks have been taking place between the Cold War foes – with the Kremlin issuing a series of security demands including that Ukraine be banned from NATO and its forces withdrawn from former Soviet states.

NATO has dismissed most of those demands as non-starters, but talks are continuing over other concessions – including offering Russian inspectors access to NATO bases in Romanian and Poland to guarantee cruise missiles are not being stored there.

Putin issued a rare statement on the crisis Tuesday, speaking after a meeting with Hungary’s Viktor Orban – a member of NATO – in Moscow.

He said the Kremlin is still studying written responses that Washington and NATO gave to his security demands, but said it is clear that most of Russia’s concerns are being ignored. 

Putin argued that it’s possible to negotiate an end to the standoff if the interests of all parties, including Russia’s security concerns, are taken into account. 

‘I hope that we will eventually find a solution, although we realize that it’s not going to be easy,’ he said. 

Putin said the Western allies’ refusal to meet Russia’s demands violates their obligations on the integrity of security for all nations. 

He warned that a Ukrainian accession to NATO could lead to a situation where Ukraine launches military action to reclaim control over Russian-annexed Crimea or areas controlled by Russia-backed separatists in the country’s east.

‘Imagine that Ukraine becomes a NATO member and launches those military operations,’ Putin said. ‘Should we fight NATO then? Has anyone thought about it?’

Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 following the ouster of the country’s Moscow-friendly president and later threw its weight behind rebels in Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland, triggering a conflict that has killed over 14,000 people.

Putin charged that while the US airs concerns about Ukraine’s security, it is using the ex-Soviet country as an ‘instrument’ in its efforts to contain Russia.

He alleged that Washington may try to ‘draw us into a military conflict and force its allies in Europe to impose the tough sanctions the U.S. is talking about now.’ 

Another option would be to ‘draw Ukraine into NATO, deploy offensive weapons there’ and encourage Ukrainian nationalists to use force to reclaim the rebel-held east or Crimea, ‘drawing us into a military conflict.’ 

‘We need to find a way to ensure interests and security of all parties, including Ukraine, European nations and Russia,’ Putin said, emphasizing that the West needs to treat Russian proposals seriously to make progress.

He said French President Emmanuel Macron may soon visit Moscow as part of renewed diplomatic efforts following their call on Monday.

Boris Johnson speaks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine during a diplomatic visit on Tuesday

The UK has thrown its weight behind Ukraine since the crisis started, flying out anti-tank missiles and deploying extra forces to eastern Europe

Earlier this week, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov sent letters to the U.S. and other Western counterparts pointing out obligations signed by all members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Russia argues that NATO’s expansion eastward has hurt Russia’s security, violating the principle of ‘indivisibility of security’ endorsed by the OSCE in 1999 and 2010. 

It says the U.S. and its allies have ignored the principle that the security of one nation should not be strengthened at the expense of others, while insisting on every nation’s right to choose alliances.

In his letter, which was released by the foreign ministry, Lavrov said ‘there must be security for all or there will be no security for anyone.’ 

In a separate call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Lavrov warned that Moscow will not allow Washington to ‘hush up’ the issue.

Blinken, meanwhile, emphasized ‘the U.S. willingness, bilaterally and together with Allies and partners, to continue a substantive exchange with Russia on mutual security concerns.’ 

However, State Department spokesman Ned Price said Blinken was resolute in ‘the U.S. commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the right of all countries to determine their own foreign policy and alliances.’

A Ukrainian soldier is seen patrolling a trench near the frontlines with Russian-backed rebels

T-64 tanks covered by snow stand at the depot site at the Tank Repair Plant in Kharkiv, Ukraine

A bullet riddled effigy of Russian President Vladimir Putin is coated by fresh snow at a frontline position in the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine

Blinken ‘urged immediate Russian de-escalation and the withdrawal of troops and equipment from Ukraine’s borders,’ Price said. 

He reaffirmed that ‘further invasion of Ukraine would be met with swift and severe consequences and urged Russia to pursue a diplomatic path.’

Senior State Department officials described the call as professional and ‘fairly candid,’ noting that if Russia wanted to prove it isn’t going to invade Ukraine, it should withdraw its troops from the border and neighboring Belarus.

Shortly after speaking to Lavrov, Blinken convened a conference call with the secretary general of NATO, the EU foreign policy chief and the chairman-in-office of the OSCE as part of efforts to ensure that the allies are engaged in any further contacts with Russia.

Speaking to reporters at the United Nations, Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said the U.S. statement about its readiness for dialogue ‘doesn’t correlate’ with Washington sending planeloads of military equipment to Ukraine.

‘I don’t know why the U.S. is escalating tensions and at the same time accusing Russia,’ he said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Kyiv for scheduled talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

A Belgian Air Force F-16 is seen at Amari Air Base, Estonia, after Russian aircraft flew into the country’s airspace on Tuesday

Johnson said the U.K. has a package of measures including sanctions ready to go ‘the moment the first Russian toecap crosses further into Ukrainian territory.’

‘It is vital that Russia steps back and chooses a path of diplomacy, and I believe that is still possible,’ Johnson said. ‘We are keen to engage in dialogue, of course we are. But we have the sanctions ready.’

He said he would have a call with Putin on Wednesday, noting that the Russian leader was trying to ‘impose a new Yalta, new zones of influence’ in a reference to the 1945 deal between the allied powers. 

‘And it would not just be Ukraine that was drawn back into the Russian sphere of influence,’ Johnson added.

In other developments, Biden was expected to nominate career foreign service officer Bridget Brink to assume the long-vacant diplomatic post of American ambassador to Ukraine, according to a U.S. official familiar with the decision. 

Brink currently serves as the ambassador to Slovakia.

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