Berlin says Russia risking Europe with ‘Cold War demands’

GBNEWS24DESK//

Russia is putting Europe’s security at risk with demands that hark back to the Cold War, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Friday, ahead of the annual Munich Security Conference set to be dominated by the Ukraine crisis.

“With an unprecedented deployment of troops on the border with Ukraine and Cold War demands, Russia is challenging fundamental principles of the European peace order,” Baerbock said in a statement.

Moscow needs to show “serious steps towards de-escalation”, she added.

Dozens of world leaders and top diplomats are descending on the southern German city of Munich from Friday for three days of talks on defence and security matters, reports AFP.

The gathering comes at a time of growing fears in the West that Russia is readying to invade Ukraine, sending tensions with Moscow soaring to a post-Cold War high.

Among those travelling to Munich are US Vice President Kamala Harris, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, UN chief Antonio Guterres, EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Russia has so far declined to attend.

“I am travelling to Munich today to discuss how we can still counter the logic of threats of violence and military escalation with the logic of dialogue,” Baerbock said ahead of the opening ceremony.

“It is a loss that Russia is not taking advantage of this opportunity.”