Germany calls to resume European-led talks to defuse NATO-Russia tensions

Europe, News January 19, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Germany calls to revive the Normandy Format, European-led negotiations between Germany, France, Russia, and Ukraine, to resolve the conflict in Ukraine’s eastern region of Donbas.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said at a press conference, “Now is the moment to use . . . formats such as Normandy. That way we can sit together with Ukraine and Russia at one table to de-escalate this really difficult situation.”

“It is important to flesh out the Normandy process again in order to move forward with the implementation of the Minsk agreements. This would contribute to the reinforcement of security in Europe. It is encouraging that all sides to the Normandy Format and Minsk Agreements stated their adherence to the Agreements,” Baerbock added.

According to the German foreign minister, the revival of the Normandy Format would help make progress in the implementation of the Minsk Agreements and resolution of the Ukrainian conflict.

German Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

After meeting the German minister, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said at a press conference “We explained that we cannot accept some demands related to the operation of the armed forces on our own territory.”

“Based on the text of the Minsk accords, we showed the need to halt the sabotage and start acting strictly in accordance with the sequence sealed in this document. Everything is clear there and there can be no double or triple interpretations,” Lavrov added.

Before arriving in Moscow, the German foreign minister said “we are ready to have a serious dialogue about joint agreements and steps that bring more security for everyone in Europe, Russia included.” However, she warned that “we cannot and will not depart from the fundamental principles of the Helsinki Final Act, which have protected Europe from the nightmare of a large-scale war in the past 50 years. They include territorial inviolability, the free choice of alliances, and the renunciation of threats of violence as a political means,”

While in Moscow, Baerbock also highlighted the “deep historical dimension” of German-Russian relations. Baerbock said: “Today, during my first visit to Moscow, it will be important for me to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The historical depth and the historical pain between our countries are also a task, an assignment for politics in the present and for future generations. This is a mission and a task for reconciliation between nations and peoples.”

Before her official trip to Russia, Baerbock visited Ukraine, where she met her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and assured that Germany and France will do their best to revive the Normandy format.

*^{German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock with Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv. (Image Credit: Ukrainian Foreign Ministry/Reuters)}*

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba said that Ukraine and Germany agreed that the peace talks with Russia must be revived and all parties must find a resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Kuleba emphasized that Germany and France should consult with Ukraine in all decisions with regard to the conflict with Russia.

During her Ukraine visit, Baerbock warned that Russia would pay a “high price” if it attacks Ukraine and stated that “we are not discussing Ukraine without Ukraine”.