German Foreign Minister to Discuss the Situation Around Ukraine in Washington | News from Germany about Germany

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will fly to Washington on January 5 for talks with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. One of the topics of discussion, as the representative of the German Foreign Ministry said on Monday, January 3, will be the situation around Ukraine.

In turn, the official representative of the FRG government, Steffen Hebestreit, informed that even before the end of the week, Foreign Policy Advisor to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his French counterpart will meet with a representative of the Russian side. The exact date and location has not yet been announced by Hebestreight. According to him, the representatives of Germany and France are also scheduled to hold talks with the Ukrainian government by the end of the week.

The German Foreign Ministry and the German Cabinet of Ministers stressed that Berlin maintains very close contact with the transatlantic ally.

Biden-Putin telephone conversation

Earlier, on the night of December 31, 2021, telephone talks were held between the presidents of the United States and the Russian Federation, Joseph Biden and Vladimir Putin. The conversation lasted about 50 minutes.

During the telephone conversation, the American leader called for a de-escalation of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev and promised that the United States and its allies would “resolutely respond” in the event of an invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine, the White House press service reported after the conversation.

The Kremlin press service indicated that Putin, in a conversation with Biden, called the possibility of adopting large-scale sanctions against Russia in the event of an escalation of the situation around Ukraine “a serious mistake, in fact, threatening a complete rupture of Russian-American relations.”

Conversation between Biden and Zelensky

Later, on January 2, Biden spoke by phone with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy. He promised the President of Ukraine that Washington would not make decisions concerning Washington’s partners without their knowledge.

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Ukraine between peace and war
The newest “frontier” in Europe
Barrier and passport control. The pedestrian checkpoint at Stanytsia Luhanska is the only route along the northern front line that allows you to get from the self-proclaimed LPR to the territory controlled by Kiev.

Ukraine between peace and war
Between two worlds
More than 3,000 people cross the pedestrian checkpoint at Stanytsia Luhanska every day. Sometimes shots still ring out here. But unlike the Donetsk region, the ceasefire has been observed in this territory for almost half a year.

Ukraine between peace and war
Search for separatists
The task of the Ukrainian border guards exercising control at this checkpoint is to detain the pro-Russian separatists. Many people moving between the self-proclaimed LPR and the territory controlled by Ukraine consider these checks to be a mockery.

Ukraine between peace and war
Shopping – through the checkpoint
Residents of Lugansk go to the territories controlled by Kiev mainly in order to buy food. To do this, they need to cross the line of demarcation that separates the self-proclaimed republics from the rest of Ukraine.

Ukraine between peace and war
Front line
Ukrainian military and pro-Russian separatists fired at each other’s positions for several months in a row. Now in the Luhansk region there is a ceasefire regime. However, many still do not believe in the world.

Ukraine between peace and war
Backwoods
Without humanitarian aid, the residents of the Sizoye village of the Luhansk region would have had a hard time. To the south of it is the front line, to the east is the Russian border. The entire area around is mined. UN Refugee officials distribute warm clothing to the local population.

Ukraine between peace and war
New wall
The relatives of these women live on the other side of the demarcation line, in the territory controlled by the separatists. They still celebrated Easter 2014 at their summer cottages in Sizom. Then, between the village and the city of Luhansk, where their apartments are located, a front line suddenly lay.

Ukraine between peace and war
Lack of fuel
The forests around Sizogo are literally stuffed with mines, so the villagers can no longer prepare firewood. If the Ukrainian winter turns out to be long, they will need to be provided with fuel.

Ukraine between peace and war
Buffer zone
A year ago, a plan to withdraw heavy weapons was presented in Minsk. However, the Ukrainian army was also very slow in fulfilling the clauses of the agreements. At the same time, the observance of the ceasefire regime is the main condition for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population.

Ukraine between peace and war
Vehicle – armored vehicles
OSCE monitors move along the northern front line exclusively in armored vehicles. A few weeks ago, shooting in the Donetsk region increased again. Author: Frank Hofmann, Alexandra Yolkina
Author: Frank Hofmann, Alexandra Yolkina