In a burst of diplomacy at the annual Munich Security Conference, Harris tried to make the case to American allies that rapidly escalating tensions on the Ukraine-Russian border meant European security was under “direct threat” and there should be unified support for economic penalties if the Kremlin invades its neighbor.
A top European Union official, Charles Michel, said Sunday that "the big question remains: does the Kremlin want dialogue?"
"We cannot forever offer an olive branch while Russia conducts missile tests and continues to amass troops," Michel, the president of the European Council, said at the Munich Security Conference. He said, "One thing is certain: if there is further military aggression, we will react with massive sanctions."
Finland’s president warned Putin is using a “two steps forward, one back” strategy in deploying Russian troops near Ukraine that “increasing tensions” and risking war.
“So far, I would say that he has behaved in a way that is very difficult to predict but that might be also intentional,” said Finish President Sauli Niinistö during a Sunday interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Finland, which borders Russia, is not a member of NATO and has had its own complicated and tense relationship with Moscow for over a century. Niinistö has led the Nordic state and European Union member for a decade, during which time he has been one of the world leaders in most frequent communication with Putin.
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