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Russo-Ukraine War - 14 February 2022

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Jack F. Matlock Jr., the last American ambassador to the USSR (1987-1991) and a member of the board of directors of the American Committee for US-Russia Accord, wrote February 14, 2022, "but I cannot dismiss the suspicion that we are witnessing an elaborate charade, grossly magnified by prominent elements of the American media, to serve a domestic political end. Facing rising inflation, the ravages of Omicron, blame (for the most part unfair) for the withdrawal from Afghanistan, plus the failure to get the full support of his own party for the Build Back Better legislation, the Biden administration is staggering under sagging approval ratings just as it gears up for this year’s congressional elections. Since clear “victories” on the domestic woes seem increasingly unlikely, why not fabricate one by posing as if he prevented the invasion of Ukraine by “standing up to Vladimir Putin”? "

Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, told the BBC 14 February 2022 that Kyiv may be willing to give up its NATO aspirations to avoid a war, but it was not clear if Kyiv just blinked or if this was a personal opinion voiced on the fly. Prystaiko told the BBC Ukraine was willing to be "flexible" continuing by saying: "We might - especially being threatened like that, blackmailed by that, and pushed to it," Prystaiko was quoted as saying when asked if Kyiv could change its position on Nato membership. “This is big. Ukraine ratified a constitutional amendment in 2019 committing to a NATO and EU membership,” David Saveliev, an academic with the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies who specialises in Russia, said.

Prystaiko’s comments on Ukraine’s potential concessions sparked an outcry, with Ukraine’s foreign ministry saying his remarks were “taken out of context” and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s spokesman asking for an explanation. Prystaiko reappeared on the BBC later to “clarify my position” and add that Ukraine was not shifting its bid to become a NATO member. He said Kyiv was looking for “other arrangements” — such as bilateral deals with the U.S. and Britain — to stave off a potential Russian invasion “on top of NATO.” Prystaiko said “We are not a member of NATO right now and to avoid war we are ready for many concessions and that is what we are doing in conversations with the Russians... but it has nothing to do with NATO, which is enshrined in the constitution". Reuters quoted him as telling the BBC "It is not a delay to our ambitions to be in NATO”.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told President Vladimir Putin during a carefully choreographed meeting on Monday that there was "always a chance" to find agreement with West on security concerns. The words appeared to be contributory to an apparent Russian climbdown. Lavrov argued that the talks “can’t go on indefinitely, but I would suggest to continue and expand them at this stage,” noting that Washington has offered to conduct dialogue on limits for missile deployments in Europe, restrictions on military drills and other confidence-building measures. "Is there a chance to reach an agreement with our partners on key issues or is it an attempt to drag us into an endless negotiation process?" Putin asked Lavrov in televised remarks. Lavrov replied: "Our possibilities are far from being exhausted, they certainly should not continue indefinitely, but I would suggest continuing and ramping them up."