Ukraine: Vladimir Putin says 'of course we don't want war' as conflicting reports claim he has withdrawn troops from border
Putin stresses he is not keen on a military confrontation over Ukraine, but repeats his provocative claim there is an ongoing "genocide" in the Donbass region. Meanwhile, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg disputes Moscow's claim it is withdrawing troops.
Wednesday 16 February 2022 11:07, UK
Vladimir Putin has insisted he "of course" does not want a war in Europe amid conflicting claims he had withdrawn some his country's forces from Ukraine's borders.
Speaking at a news conference after talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Mr Putin stressed he was not keen on a military confrontation.
He also suggested that there was the opportunity for further talks between Moscow and the West in a bid to ease current tensions.
"Of course we don't want it [war]," Mr Putin said after his discussions with Mr Scholz in Moscow.
"This is exactly why we put forward the proposal to start the negotiation process where the result should be an agreement of ensuring equal security of everyone, including our country.
"Unfortunately there was no constructive response to this proposal.
"Nevertheless we come from a position that even in the documents that were forwarded to us from NATO and Washington there are elements that can be discussed.
"But these need to be discussed comprehensively with all basic issues that we have highlighted today."
Putin repeats 'genocide' claim in Ukraine
The Russian president said his country was ready for talks with NATO and the US on limits for missile deployments and military transparency.
But Mr Putin also reiterated his provocative claim that the situation in east Ukraine's Donbass region - where Russian-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian troops since 2014 - resembled "genocide".
It has recently been speculated that Russia could stage a fabricated attack by the Ukrainian military against Russian-speaking people in eastern Ukraine.
Along with an accompanying accusation of genocide by Moscow against Kiev, this could then be used as a pretext for a Russian invasion of the country, it has been suggested.
Analysis: False claim of 'genocide' could be pretext for invasion
Vladimir Putin has repeated a claim that genocide is happening in the occupied Ukrainian region of Donbass.
It is a false claim and one Western officials fear could be used as a pretext for Russian military intervention, on the pretence of protecting Russian speakers and passport holders who still live over the border in Ukraine.
Genocide is a legal term, first used in 1944 to described the Nazi extermination of the Jewish people. Such are the heavy connotations it still carries, diplomats and politicians only use it in the most extreme circumstances today. Bosnia, Rwanda and Cambodia were examples of genocide; what is going on in Donbass, as bad as it might be, is not.
Russian-backed troops have been fighting Ukrainian forces in the east since 2014. Thousands have died over the past seven years, and millions have fled to safety, some towards Russia.
But many of the deaths are military casualties, not civilians, as would have to be the case in genocide. It is a grinding conflict, troops are entrenched and there is little lateral movement on either side. It is not the systematic targeting of an ethnic population, as would have to be the case in genocide.
In the past Moscow has granted passports to residents of the Donbass region, the effect of which created hundreds of thousands of "Russians" living inside eastern Ukraine who would then become Mr Putin's responsibility: another pretext for invasion.
And a vote in the Moscow Duma on Tuesday, to declare the Donbass an independent territory, could create a similar environment. The international consensus is that Russia is the instigator of the violence in eastern Ukraine, not the victim.
'War in Europe is inconceivable'
Mr Scholz had told the news conference that "war in Europe is inconceivable" and said a de-escalation of Russia's military build-up along Ukraine's borders was "essential".
He also welcomed Moscow's announcement earlier on Tuesday that some units participating in military exercises would begin returning to their bases.
"We have not yet exhausted diplomatic solutions," Mr Scholz said. "We need to make sure to work towards a peaceful solution of the conflict.
"We have heard that some troops are being withdrawn - that is a good sign and we hope more troops will be withdrawn.
"We are prepared to talk about very concrete steps in order to ensure peace and security."
NATO boss dismisses claims of troop withdrawal
Jens Stoltenberg had earlier dismissed the suggestion that Russia was withdrawing some of its forces from Ukraine's borders.
"We have not seen any de-escalation, any withdrawal of Russian troops and equipment," the NATO secretary general told Sky News.
"We have not seen any withdrawal or de-escalation on the ground, but we will continue to monitor it very closely.
"We will follow what they are doing and we call on them to de-escalate.
"It's not too late for Russia to remove forces, to start to engage in real efforts to find a political solution and to stop the preparations for aggressive action."
PM accuses Russia of 'mixed signals'
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday also accused Russia of sending "mixed signals" over its intentions.
He said there was intelligence that Russia was constructing field hospitals near the Ukrainian border in Belarus, as well as more Russian battalion tactical groups being brought closer to the border.
Mr Johnson said this could "only be construed as preparation for an invasion", but stressed there were "clearly" signs of "a diplomatic opening" and a "Russian openness to conversations".
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In a call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Johnson welcomed the unity of European allies in the face of Russian aggression.
But he also told the EU chief that "more could be done to strengthen coordinated measures at pace", a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
Mr Johnson and Ms Von der Leyen "agreed that the world needed to remain vigilant in the coming hours and days", Number 10 added.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss told Sky News: "The only thing I'll believe is when they move the troops away from the border, words are easy.
"What they need to do is move the troops away from the border."
Reacting later to Russia's failure to send a representative to an Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) meeting, the foreign secretary said Moscow needs to "commit to meaningful talks".
'This is an unprecedented military build-up'
In his Sky News interview, Mr Stoltenberg hit out at Moscow's "unjustified and unexplained" military build-up of some 130,000 troops around Ukraine.
"Of course every nation has the right to exercise their own troops on their own territory - that's absolutely acceptable," the NATO boss added.
"But this is not a normal exercise. This is their biggest concentration of combat forces in Europe since the end of the Cold War.
"They are close to Ukraine's borders, they are also partly inside Ukrainian territory in Crimea and also in Donbass.
"This is unprecedented and they have all the enablers in place to launch a full-fledged invasion with hardly any warning time at all.
"So this is an unprecedented military build-up, it is unjustified and unexplained combined with threatening rhetoric.
"Because what they have said is, if we don't give in to the Russian demands, then there will be what they call 'military technical consequences'."
Labour demands 'proper action' against 'Russian dirty money'
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called on the government to take "proper action" against "Russian dirty money" in the UK.
"For a decade, the Tories have not just failed to challenge Russian influence - they have enabled it," he said.
"As a result, the UK is seen as a laundromat for kleptocrats' dirty money, our institutions have been damaged and an entire cottage industry has grown up dedicated to lobbying for and protecting those close to the Kremlin.
"If Boris Johnson is now serious about tackling Russian dirty money and influence, he should immediately get his own house in order."