Over the past weekend the US administration raised the level of warning regarding its assessments of the immediacy of a Russian military campaign against Ukraine, and possibly in other arenas as well. For the time being, it seems that the latest telephone diplomacy (phone calls between Putin and Biden and Macron, and between Blinken and Lavrov) did not lead to a breakthrough. The Russians insist that the conduct in the West exudes hysteria for no reason, but reiterate that even in the telephone conversations there was no response to Moscow's main demands: a commitment to stop the spread of NATO in Eastern Europe and that Ukraine not join the alliance. President Biden reiterated his warning during his conversation with Putin that "if Russia does invade, the United States and its allies will take a heavy toll from it." At the same time, Washington is increasing its level of military readiness, but it reiterates that this is a "defensive deployment." Meanwhile, a long list of countries, including Israel, have called on their citizens to leave Ukraine, after issuing travel advisories. It has also been reported that the Russians are withdrawing their diplomats from Kiev.
Despite repeated warnings and Russia's broad military deployment around Ukraine's borders, there is still no clear certainty that President Putin has already made a decision on a military move. In any case, it is likely that in the coming days efforts to find a diplomatic solution will continue, including during the German Chancellor's expected visit to Kiev and Moscow. The United States has relayed (undisclosed) proposals for a solution, including during Biden's talks with Putin, and the Russians note they are still exploring these ideas. While the West has no interest in a military campaign, it has at least projected the determination so far not to surrender to Putin, and it is clear to Biden as well as to his counterparts in the West that their leadership is now being tested and their conduct will have a direct impact on their capability to handle future challenges.
Israel's decision to follow in the footsteps of the United States and call on its citizens to leave Ukraine shows that despite the understandable desire to distance itself from the crisis in Eastern Europe, reality, and certainly if a military campaign ensues, will require it to take a stand. In such a situation, and despite the need to walk the tightrope, the Israeli government will not be able to adopt a policy that would be contrary to the interests of the US administration, even at the risk of a possible Russian attempt to exact a price, likely in Syria, and possibly also as a message to the Americans.
Over the past weekend the US administration raised the level of warning regarding its assessments of the immediacy of a Russian military campaign against Ukraine, and possibly in other arenas as well. For the time being, it seems that the latest telephone diplomacy (phone calls between Putin and Biden and Macron, and between Blinken and Lavrov) did not lead to a breakthrough. The Russians insist that the conduct in the West exudes hysteria for no reason, but reiterate that even in the telephone conversations there was no response to Moscow's main demands: a commitment to stop the spread of NATO in Eastern Europe and that Ukraine not join the alliance. President Biden reiterated his warning during his conversation with Putin that "if Russia does invade, the United States and its allies will take a heavy toll from it." At the same time, Washington is increasing its level of military readiness, but it reiterates that this is a "defensive deployment." Meanwhile, a long list of countries, including Israel, have called on their citizens to leave Ukraine, after issuing travel advisories. It has also been reported that the Russians are withdrawing their diplomats from Kiev.
Despite repeated warnings and Russia's broad military deployment around Ukraine's borders, there is still no clear certainty that President Putin has already made a decision on a military move. In any case, it is likely that in the coming days efforts to find a diplomatic solution will continue, including during the German Chancellor's expected visit to Kiev and Moscow. The United States has relayed (undisclosed) proposals for a solution, including during Biden's talks with Putin, and the Russians note they are still exploring these ideas. While the West has no interest in a military campaign, it has at least projected the determination so far not to surrender to Putin, and it is clear to Biden as well as to his counterparts in the West that their leadership is now being tested and their conduct will have a direct impact on their capability to handle future challenges.
Israel's decision to follow in the footsteps of the United States and call on its citizens to leave Ukraine shows that despite the understandable desire to distance itself from the crisis in Eastern Europe, reality, and certainly if a military campaign ensues, will require it to take a stand. In such a situation, and despite the need to walk the tightrope, the Israeli government will not be able to adopt a policy that would be contrary to the interests of the US administration, even at the risk of a possible Russian attempt to exact a price, likely in Syria, and possibly also as a message to the Americans.