Diplomacy has created an opening for detente in Ukraine, but beware a trap
Russia is invoking the Minsk agreement to sow chaos, not to bring peace
NOTHING CONCENTRATES minds like 130,000 troops poised to invade. For years relations between Russia and the West have languished, but the Russian forces converging on Ukraine have caused a spasm of diplomacy. On February 7th and 8th Emmanuel Macron, France’s president, went to Moscow and Kyiv with plans to prevent war. He was to be followed east by the British ministers of foreign affairs and defence. Next week will be the turn of Olaf Scholz, Germany’s chancellor.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Minsky moment”
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