Putin 'doesn't want' war, moves to ease tensions, but pressure remains high

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/a49c75871decfe52415488f43a1b79ddda4c4073

Wednesday, February 16, 20:00 Delivery Asahi Shimbun Digital Putin 'doesn't want' war, moves to ease tensions, but pressure remains high Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a news conference in Moscow on Feb. 15. 　 　Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Scholz after their meeting on April 15 that he intends to continue negotiations with the West over the situation in Ukraine. In addition, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the partial withdrawal of troops from the area near the Ukrainian border. This is a move to ease tensions, but the conflict with the West over the suspension of the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is deep, and military pressure near the border remains high. It remains to be seen whether the situation will calm down. Photo: A Russian army tank during a military exercise in Russia on February 5. Photo provided by the Russian Ministry of Defense. 　 　If you ask me whether I want to do this or not, I would say no, of course. That's why I proposed the security discussion." 　 　At the press conference, Mr. Putin emphasized this when asked about the possibility of war breaking out in Europe, a clear softening of his stance compared to his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on January 7, when he even mentioned the possibility of nuclear war and opposed Ukraine's joining NATO. 　 　On this day, however, he assessed that "there are some points that we do not disagree with the discussion" on issues such as European security and intermediate-range missiles included in the response, and said he was ready to discuss them. . Asahi Shimbun