Threat, Freeze, Shoot: 5 front divisions between Russia and the United States

Due to global warming: Relations between the West and Russia are once again approaching freezing. The war of words began.

After US President Biden Den Russian Putin, who recently described his colleagues as “murderers,” made a wild threat in his Union State speech yesterday: “Anyone who organizes provocations that threaten the key interests of our security will regret these actions.” I hope no one thinks to cross the Red Fort. We determine where it goes. “

Five very different front sections

The United States and Russia currently have five different sectors at the forefront of hostility to each other. The gravitational field of their relationship is actually engraved with red lines:

1. Troops are currently stationed on the Ukrainian-Russian border. According to Western reports, nearly 100,000 Russian soldiers are now stationed at the border. There have been frequent shootings and deaths in a series of clashes in recent weeks. The question of all is: does Putin only want to impress – or does he just want to intervene?

2. The United States will launch its own spring maneuver Defender Europe 21 in a few weeks, with the Bundeswehr also slightly involved. About 30,000 soldiers, mainly from the US military, are to be transferred in the direction of Russia to the EU’s outer border. Russia views the maneuver as an act of aggression.

3. Demonstrations took place in more than 100 cities in Russia yesterday for the health of regime critic Alexei Navalny. Russian Police Responded with home searches and arrests. A total of more than 10,000 people have been in police custody since the beginning of this year. Navalny is currently the president’s most important domestic political opponent.

4. Like its predecessors, the current US government is fighting in all diplomatic ways to stop the construction of the North Stream 2 gas pipeline, which seeks to destroy the Russian gas trade and force Germany back into solidarity with the West. Angela Merkel Refuses.

5. The West is trying to weaken Russia economically. Assets owned by senior Russian government officials have been frozen in the United States. In addition, the export of materials that can be used to make chemical weapons is prohibited. In doing so, the United States is imposing sanctions on the European Union and the United Kingdom In Europe Already passed in the fall of last year.

GC in conversation with Russia: “One hour of diplomacy is needed”

There is no consensus on how Germany will deal with its toughest neighbor, Russia. In the East of our country there is traditionally a desire for dialogue, cooperation and a harmonious special relationship beyond NATO. Gregory Kisi, foreign policy spokesman for the Left Party in Puntestock, says today Breakfast podcast in the morning: “You can achieve humane gestures, especially with dictatorial structures, if you approach them and talk to them wisely.” He supports the principle of dialogue: “We need diplomatic time again, not military time.”

Rodgen: “Russia’s handling of Western processes”

In West Germany, however, Putin has always been viewed with great suspicion. Merkel’s diplomatic attack on Putin, who once brought a ceasefire to eastern Ukraine, and insists on compliance with the gas pipeline, putting pressure on its own forces. Says Norbert Rodgen, chairman of the foreign affairs committee Podcast-interview This morning: “We see aggression on the one hand, and we are responding to it with a mega economic plan for Gasprom, from which we have no advantage in Germany and Europe.” Putin’s threat You have to face it together“If violence and the use of military force against international law are accepted as part of foreign policy in Europe, we will once again have a new, divided continent. Then violence will prevail and we must confront it.”

Rodgen also addresses the involvement of Russian officials in the German election campaign: “Russia is serious about manipulating the democratic processes of the West, which is one that could destabilize foreign policy.”

Conclusion: This debate should be held on the right way to deal with Putin – and in Germany. The one who is silent agrees.

So: Where is Putin going in Russia-West? You will hear detailed interviews with Gregor Kisi and Norbert Rodgen featuring podcasts featuring Saturday morning. ThePioneer.de.