BRUSSELS (Dagbladet): Several times, both British and American intelligence have reported that it is very likely that Russia is going to a full-scale war against Ukraine. As recently as Wednesday morning, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss confirmed that it was “highly likely” that Russian troops would attack Ukraine – and the capital Kyiv.
NOT WORKING: Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Wednesday that Russia’s interests are not the subject of negotiations. At the same time, he is still open to a diplomatic solution. Photo: Reuters / NTB
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– Who will guess from Brussels? Ask Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who is in Brussels to talk about the Ukraine crisis – and green change. He kept on answering himself:
– But there is so much military capacity, so many types of offensive weapons and people, which cannot be ruled out. I think part of Russia’s strategy is that the outside world cannot rule it out. And then it’s part of political communication, Støre told Dagbladet.
Shop: – Almost nothing more serious
Distance from Putin’s interpretation
The Prime Minister and his many aides wake up early on this sunny spring day in the Belgian capital. A number of meetings are on the agenda. The original program was mainly about green shift and cooperation between Norway and EU countries, but Ukraine still needs a lot of space.
PROGRAM CLOSED: Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre must arrive in Brussels on Wednesday morning, where he will meet with a number of EU leaders to bring about green change – and a solution to the escalating Ukraine-Russia crisis. Here on the way from a meeting with UE digital top Margrethe Vestager. Photo: Hans Arne Vedlog / Dagbladet
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Støre has met with the Russian president several times over the years.
– I won’t give myself to her translator now. People can form their own image, but he really had power in Russia from 1999-2000. It’s a long time. And he reads about what Russia is and where it comes from, as you heard in the speech he gave on Monday, Støre said and continued:
– It tells a Russian view that, with a dramatic history, but with some interpretations that I think we should clearly distance ourselves from. He relinquished sovereignty to other countries according to his own interpretation, Støre said.
Some countries warn of sanctions
Not an analyst
Vladimir Putin has been in power in Russia for more than two decades. Has he and Russian policy changed?
– I don’t want to be an analyst about his personality. He’s been in power for a long time, and we have to deal with what the Russian government, the Russian president is doing – what Russia is doing and saying. We believe that we must continue to seek diplomacy, cooperation, seek solutions. In modern Europe, we must find solutions that are political and not based on the use of force, says Støre.
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