Will Putin now light the fuse that will prove catastrophic for the world?

The Geneva talks set to start today (10/01/2022) between the US and Russia (read: Putin and President Biden) will set the scene for the upcoming ,

" ... session of the Nato-Russia Council, in which all 30 alliance members will take part. It will be the first such meeting since 2019 of the council, which was established in 2002 to defuse tensions and build consensus.between Russia and Nato." (Julian Borger (left): The Guardian : 10 January 2022) (my emphasis)

Julian Borger further reports that,

"... the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, Gen Mark Milley (right), has also warned his Russian counterpart, Gen Valery Gerasimov, that [a Russian] invasion would face a long insurgency, backed by advanced US weaponry. US officials have refused to comment on reports that Stinger anti-aircraft missiles were being sent to Ukraine in anticipation of such a guerrilla war." (The Guardian : 10 January 2022) (my emphasis)

This warning of Gen. Mark Milley follows on from a warning by Jens Stoltenberg, the current Secretary-General of NATO, that,

"NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (left) said Friday that Western powers were bracing for the possibility that high-stakes talks with Russia could break down, and that the alliance was reinforcing military capabilities along its eastern flank as well as readying potentially crippling economic sanctions should Moscow attack Ukraine." (David M. Herszenhorn and Jacopo Barigazzi : Politico : 7 January 2022) (my emphasis)

These rapid developments on the Military Diplomatic and Practical Front of the West in support of Ukraine in its war with Putin is being reinforced by the support of Ukraine on the Political and Diplomatic Front.

As reported by William James and Andy Bruce last week,

"Britain warned Moscow on Thursday that it was working with Western partners on high-impact sanctions targetting Russia's financial sector should it invade Ukraine." (Reuters : 6 January 2022) (my emphasis)

Similalrly, Alistair Dawber reported yesterday that,

"The US is preparing to respond immediately to a Russian invasion of Ukraine, with financial, technological and military sanctions that would stymie Moscow’s ability to continue to function normally on the international stage.

The plan, telegraphed before today’s meeting between senior American and Russian officials in Geneva, came as Nato’s chief warned that the western alliance was prepared for “a new armed conflict in Europe”. (The Times : 9 January 2022) (my emphasis)

DW now reports that,

"Russia is not optimistic ahead of the planned talks with the United States and other NATO members over the tensions at the Ukrainian border, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Sunday.

Speaking with the Interfax news agency, Ryabkov said it would be "naive" to expect "progress, let alone quick progress." (DW : 9 January 2022) (my emphasis)

US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, is also not optimistic about today's talks in Geneva.

As reported by Jennifer Hansler, (right)

"Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he doesn't expect to see any breakthroughs in the meetings with Russia this week, reiterating that while the US is prepared to listen to Moscow's concerns, it will be hard to achieve any progress unless Russia de-escalates tensions on the border with Ukraine.

"It's hard to see making actual progress, as opposed to talking, in an atmosphere of escalation with a gun to Ukraine's head. So, if we're actually going to make progress, we're going to have to see de-escalation, Russia pulling back from the threat that it currently poses to Ukraine," he said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday." (CNN : 9 January 2022) (my emphasis)

Already, as reported by Deborah Haynes

"An increasing number of Ukrainians are joining territorial defence groups designed to support the regular armed forces in the event of a Russian offensive - such as by protecting key locations like council buildings and bridges." (Sky News : 9 January 2022) (my emphasis)

Will Putin now light the fuse that will prove catastrophic for the world?

 

(to be continued)