Ukraine hints at concessions to Russia as Scholz heads to region

Ukrainian envoy backtracks on claims Kyiv open to join NATO amid German efforts to stabilize situation; Western economies warn Putin of 'massive' economic consequences' to an invasion of Ukraine
Reuters|
Ukraine's ambassador to Britain on Monday backtracked on remarks suggesting that Kyiv would reconsider its attempt to join NATO as Russia masses a huge force within striking distance of its neighbor, but said other concessions could be on offer.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter

  • The Kremlin said that if Ukraine renounced its aspiration to join the U.S.-European military alliance, that would significantly help address Russia's concerns, and that President Vladimir Putin would meet his foreign and defense ministers on Monday.
    6 View gallery
    נשיא רוסיה ולדימיר פוטין ב תרגיל ארכיון עם שר ההגנה סרגיי שויגו משמאל ו הרמטכ"ל ולרי גרסימוב מימין
    נשיא רוסיה ולדימיר פוטין ב תרגיל ארכיון עם שר ההגנה סרגיי שויגו משמאל ו הרמטכ"ל ולרי גרסימוב מימין
    Russian President Vladimir Putin
    (Photo: AP)
    A day after Washington said Russia could now invade Ukraine at any time on a surprise pretext, the Group of Seven large Western economies (G7) warned Russia of "massive" economic consequences if it did so, and promised Ukraine swift support.
    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz flew to Kyiv for talks, to be followed on Tuesday by a meeting with Putin in Moscow, but a German official said Berlin did not expect concrete results.
    A senior Russian military officer was quoted by the news agency Interfax as saying Russia was ready to open fire on foreign vessels that entered its waters illegally, though such a decision would have to be approved at the "highest level".
    6 View gallery
    קנצלר גרמניה אולף שולץ ועידה עם מנהיגי אירופה ו נאט"ו על רוסיה אוקראינה
    קנצלר גרמניה אולף שולץ ועידה עם מנהיגי אירופה ו נאט"ו על רוסיה אוקראינה
    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
    (Photo: EPA)
    Moscow denies planning to invade Ukraine and has accused the West of hysteria, but has made clear that it sees Kyiv's quest for closer ties with the West, notably over NATO, as a threat.
    Ukrainian Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko was initially quoted by the BBC as saying Ukraine might be "flexible" over this aim, "especially being threatened like that, blackmailed by that."
    6 View gallery
    שגריר אוקראינה ב לונדון בריטניה ודים פריסטייקו מתיחות עם רוסיה
    שגריר אוקראינה ב לונדון בריטניה ודים פריסטייקו מתיחות עם רוסיה
    Ukrainian Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko
    (Photo: Reuters)
    Later, he said he had been misunderstood on NATO - although Ukraine was prepared to make other concessions.
    "We are not a member of NATO right now and to avoid war we are ready for many concessions and that is what we are doing in conversations with the Russians," Prystaiko told the BBC.
    "It has nothing to do with NATO, which (membership application) is enshrined in the constitution."
    The G7 finance ministers said that military aggression by Russia against Ukraine would trigger "economic and financial sanctions which will have massive and immediate consequences on the Russian economy".
    6 View gallery
    אוקראינה חייל מילואים ב אזור לוגנסק מתיחות רוסיה
    אוקראינה חייל מילואים ב אזור לוגנסק מתיחות רוסיה
    A Ukrainian soldier near the border with Russia
    (Photo: AP)
    'ANY DAY NOW'
    The Kremlin said it expected Putin's talks with Scholz on Tuesday to address Ukraine, security guarantees for Russia, and the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, which is awaiting European Union approval.
    U.S. President Joe Biden's National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that an invasion could begin "any day now", but U.S. officials said they could not confirm reports that U.S. intelligence indicated it would start on Wednesday.
    6 View gallery
    עצרת במחאה על ההסלמה, קייב אוקראינה
    עצרת במחאה על ההסלמה, קייב אוקראינה
    Ukrainian protesters in Kyiv
    (Photo: AP)
    Sullivan said the United States would also "defend every inch of NATO territory... and Russia, we think, fully understands that message". Biden told Putin in a phone call on Saturday that any attack would harm and isolate Moscow.
    The Kremlin said Putin told Biden that Washington had failed to take Russia's main concerns into account, and that it had received no substantial answer on key elements of its security demands.
    Washington regards many of the proposals as non-starters but has pushed the Kremlin to discuss them jointly with Washington and its European allies.
    6 View gallery
    פריסת כוחות צבא רוסיה סמוך לאוקראינה
    פריסת כוחות צבא רוסיה סמוך לאוקראינה
    Russian forces on the border with Ukraine
    (Photo: Reuters)
    Washington and some European nations have been scaling back or evacuating embassy staff and urging citizens to leave Ukraine. Dutch airline KLM has suspended flights to Ukraine.
    Ukraine on Sunday invoked a treaty to demand talks with Russia and members of the organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe OSCE within 48 hours to discuss Russia's military build-up.
    Comments
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""