France and Germany have urged the Ukrainian military and pro-Russian separatist forces to maintain the new ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.
A joint statement released on Thursday said, “We urge the sides to respect the ceasefire and to continue discussions on further steps in the humanitarian field, e.g. the opening of crossing points and the exchange of detainees.” The statement comes after Ukraine accused Russian forces of breaking the latest truce at least thrice on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said a ceasefire had been reached between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. OSCE special representative Mikko Kinnunen said he was delighted that “participants expressed their strong determination to fully adhere to the Measures to Strengthen the Ceasefire agreement of 22 July 2020.” However, the situation remains volatile. Prior to the ceasefire, both sides accused each other of building up forces for a military confrontation in the Donbas region.
We welcome yesterday’s ceasefire announcement between Ukraine and Russia-led forces in eastern Ukraine. Diplomacy and de-escalation is the best way to resolve the crisis in Donbas. https://t.co/Z5JhtAXFL4
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) December 23, 2021
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that his country doesn’t want conflict with Ukraine. Speaking at an annual press conference on Thursday, Putin claimed the United States (US) is willing to discuss Russia’s security proposal to restrict the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) eastward expansion. He said, “We have to think about ensuring our security prospects not just for today and next week but for the near future.”
Russia and the US are expected to begin talks in this regard early next year, and Russia is also expected to hold separate talks with NATO. On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, “It has been agreed that at the very beginning of next year, the first round (of talks) should be bilateral contact between our negotiators and American ones.” However, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki has said that Washington has not yet agreed on a time and place for new discussions with Putin.
The latest developments come amid Russia’s military build-up near the shared border with Ukraine in recent months. Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops near the Ukrainian border, alarming the West over the rising possibility of another Russian invasion of Ukraine. The US, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have threatened Moscow with severe punitive measures if it invaded Ukraine.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss discussed the issue with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday and both sides warned that the Russian incursion would be a massive strategic mistake and lead to severe consequences. They also reiterated NATO’s support for Ukraine and urged Russia to engage in talks.
Spoke to @SecBlinken on Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine:
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) December 23, 2021
👉 Any Russian incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake & have severe consequences
👉 NATO & G7 are united in supporting Ukraine
👉 Russia needs to engage in talks that respect sovereignty pic.twitter.com/an7NhHFwRW
However, Russia has denied having any intention of invading Ukraine and instead accused the US and NATO of fuelling tensions at the European border by resorting to anti-Russia rhetoric, supplying modern weapons to Ukraine, and brainwashing the population. Reacting to this, Psaki said: “Well, facts are a funny thing, and facts make clear that the only aggression we’re seeing at the border of Russia and Ukraine is the military buildup by the Russians and the bellicose rhetoric by the leader of Russia.”