German Foreign Minister Burbock went on visits to Kiev and Moscow | News from Germany about Germany | DW

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, ahead of her visits to Kiev and Moscow, stressed the West’s readiness to negotiate with Russia on detente in the conflict over Ukraine. “We are ready for a serious dialogue on bilateral agreements and steps that will bring more security to everyone in Europe, including Russia,” she said before flying to Kiev on Monday, January 17, in Berlin.

At the same time, Burbock stressed that the West “cannot and will not make concessions on fundamental principles, such as territorial integrity, freedom to choose alliances and blocs, and the rejection of violence as a political tool.” “We are determined to respond if Russia chooses an escalation path instead,” she warned.

According to Burbock, “the premise of diplomacy is to understand the point of view of the other side, even if the latter holds a completely opposite opinion.” The minister said that she would carefully listen to her interlocutors in Kiev and Moscow, but at the same time convey the West’s position “with all clarity” to them. The head of the German Foreign Ministry expressed her intention to clarify the readiness of the parties for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict and to contribute to the revival of the Normandy format, in which Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France are discussing the Ukrainian crisis.

Conflict over Ukraine

In the capital of Ukraine, Kiev, Burbock will hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba. She will also meet with representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). On the evening of September 17, she will fly from Kiev to Moscow for talks with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

Russia has deployed about 100,000 troops to the border with Ukraine. The West fears an invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine, but Moscow denies that it has such plans. The Kremlin emphasizes that “security guarantees” are important to it and in this regard insists on NATO’s refusal to further expand to the east and, in particular, to admit Ukraine into its structure.

NATO categorically rejects this demand and, for its part, demands the withdrawal of Russian troops from the border with Ukraine. Annalena Burbock noted that at the talks in Moscow it is important for her to outline positions. “As the new federal government, we are interested in a serious and stable relationship with Russia,” she said.

See also:

• The European Union and NATO in the post-Soviet space

  Integration into Europe

  Of the countries of the former USSR, only the Baltic countries are currently full members of the European Union: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia joined the EU on May 1, 2004. Six more countries participate in the EU Eastern Partnership program: three of them – Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia – have signed an association agreement with the EU.

• 

  The European Union and NATO in the post-Soviet space

  EU Eastern Partnership Program

  Six post-Soviet countries – Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan – are currently participating in the Eastern Partnership program aimed at deepening ties between the republics of the former USSR and the European Union. It is noteworthy that Belarus and Armenia are also members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which also includes Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

• 

  The European Union and NATO in the post-Soviet space

  “Eastern Partnership” of two speeds

  Recently, the division of the Eastern Partnership countries into two groups has intensified. The first includes Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, which have signed an association agreement with the EU. In the second – Belarus, Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have not concluded such an agreement. An associated state can gain duty-free access to EU markets in exchange for reforms.

• 

  The European Union and NATO in the post-Soviet space

  Who needs an EU visa

  Citizens of the Baltic countries, which joined the EU in 2004, enjoy the right of free movement and can work in any EU country on an equal basis with citizens of one or another EU state. Holders of Ukrainian, Moldovan or Georgian passports can visit the countries of the Schengen zone without visas. Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Armenia and Azerbaijan still require a visa for these purposes.

• 

  The European Union and NATO in the post-Soviet space

  NATO integration

  Of the republics of the former USSR, only three Baltic countries are also full-fledged members of the North Atlantic Alliance. Ukraine and Georgia have been granted the status of a “postgraduate country”: this means that the state has officially expressed an interest in joining NATO and has received an invitation to join an intensive dialogue on membership issues

  Author: Alexandra Elkina

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