Analysis by Nawab Khan BRUSSELS, Feb 13 (KUNA) -- Though tension between Russia and the Ukraine continues to buildup, sending alarms around the globe, parties involved in managing the crisis are in a flurry of diplomacy to avert war.
As Western analysts and commentators discuss, argue and debate if war in Ukraine will break out or not, it appears that sound reason and pragmatism will eventually prevail and avoid a catastrophic military confrontation.
The Russian online paper Vzglyad captures the mood on all sides by commenting that "neither side wants war".
"So let's agree on how to make sure that such a war is not unintentionally triggered during manoeuvres in the Black Sea or a sudden crisis in Donbass or South Ossetia," it said in an opinion piece.
On his part, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently indicated that relations between NATO and Russia are at their lowest ebb since the Cold War ended due to tensions over Ukraine, and noted that "this is due to Russia's aggressive actions".
He has repeatedly accused Russia of amassing over 100,000 troops around Ukraine with the intention to invade the country.
NATO has made it clear that any further aggression against Ukraine would carry a heavy price for Russia.
"If they choose confrontation, they will pay a high price. There will be economic sanctions, there will be increased NATO military presence in the eastern part of the Alliance," Stoltenberg told reporters last week.
The sharp deterioration in NATO-Moscow ties followed the annexation by Russia of Crimea and which ended years of efforts to normalize their relationship.
The Russia-NATO Council was established in 2002 for dealing with security issues and promoting joint projects in fighting terrorism, military cooperation, and cooperation on Afghanistan.
But in April 2014, NATO decided to suspend all practical co-operation with Russia in response to the annexation of Crimea by Moscow , but the NATO-Russia Council continued functioning.
In a sign of further deterioration NATO expelled eight Russian officials from its Brussels headquarters on accusations of spying in October 2021 while Russia suspended its mission to NATO and ordered the closure of NATO's office in Moscow.
In December, Russia presented draft proposals on security guarantees between Russia, the United States, and NATO countries.
The proposals were aimed to restrict NATO from expanding in eastern Europe and also not to admit Ukraine and Georgia into the Alliance.
Stoltenberg rejected the Russian proposals as unacceptable and stressed that the Alliance will not change its Open door policy to admit new members.
The NATO-Russia Council, which brings together all 30 NATO member countries and Russia, met in Brussels on January 12th, 2022 to discuss the situation in and around Ukraine, and the implications for European security. But the results of the meeting were not encouraging.
Stoltenberg, who chaired the meeting, concluded, "This was not an easy discussion." He noted that NATO was ready to meet again with Russia to discuss a number of topics in greater detail and to put concrete proposals on the table, but till now it is not clear when and if the NATO-Russia Council will meet.
He also confirmed on January 26th that NATO has conveyed its written proposals to Russia, in parallel with the United States.
He said that Allies see three main areas with room for progress: NATO-Russia relations; European security, including the situation in and around Ukraine; and risk reduction, transparency, and arms control.
On its part, Moscow expressed its dissatisfaction over the response to its proposals.
"The reaction by Washington and Brussels to the drafts of the Russian-US agreement and the agreement with NATO on security guarantees that we handed over ignores provisions that are fundamental for us, primarily, the provisions that the alliance will not expand further and strike weapons will not be deployed near the Russian borders," said a Russian foreign ministry statement.
Moreover, Russia has rejected as "empty and unfounded" recent statements by NATO officials and US that Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen within days.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned these Western allegations as a ploy to escalate tensions in the region. (end) nk.gta