The threat of war looms large over Ukraine. With more than 100,000 Russian troops deployed near its neighbour’s borders, the Ukrainians are preparing for the worst-case scenario.

As tensions between Russia and Ukraine reach a boiling point, world leaders and diplomats shuffle among Washington, Moscow and Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, to avert a war, which many fear would be catastrophic.

The same has been running around the minds of Indian students who are living in Ukraine.

There are around 20,000 Indian students studying medical and engineering in the east European country.

Indians form the biggest student group in Ukraine. Most of them come here to study medicine.

There are two reasons for that. One, it is affordable. Medical education here is cheaper than in India.

And two, the degrees that they get are recognised both in Europe and in India, so students come here in large numbers.

WION&nbsp;visited the country’s prestigious varsity, Taras Shevchenko National University, in Kyiv to talk to students and understand their life under the spectre of conflict.

As war brews on the border, a sense of worry is palpable in the dormitory. On the face of it, life looks normal on the campus, but the threat of war has been weighing on the mind of these students.

“There are things that are happening overnight. All we are doing is waiting for the updates,” said Shashank, a student at Taras Shevchenko National University.

Expressing similar views, another student says, “I have been here for three years and there has always been a talk of war. But this time it is more serious than before. Let’s see, the US, India are doing things. I don’t think there should be a war. But it is slightly unpredictable.”

These students are not only concerned for their safety, but they also worry about their Ukrainian friends.

“If war happens, we can always go back and create our life in India. We have the option to make our future brighter. Many of us come from a middle-class background, and if anything (war) happens, it will massively impact us. But we still can go back. Whereas, I worry for my Ukrainian friends. I feel that they might lose their independence,” said Madhu Mohan, a fourth-year MBBS student at Taras Shevchenko National University.

Students are banking on the Indian embassy in Kyiv,&nbsp;as they&nbsp;have been evacuated once before. At the beginning of the pandemic, hundreds of students were flown to India through the Vande Bharat mission.

Around two weeks back, the Indian embassy in Kyiv drew up a list, asking the students to fill up forms to collate their information in case they need&nbsp;to be evacuated if a war breaks out.

They say that if any conflict arises, New Delhi will ensure their safety.

&nbsp;“We think we are in safe hands because we are in constant touch with the (Indian) embassy. If there is any kind of evacuation, the embassy is going to take measures accordingly,” said Shashank.

Most of the classes have been going online because of the pandemic. Some students have gone back home while some stayed.

The threat of war looms large over Ukraine. With more than 100,000 Russian troops deployed near its neighbour’s borders, the Ukrainians are preparing for the worst-case scenario.

The threat of war looms large over Ukraine. With more than 100,000 Russian troops deployed near its neighbour’s borders, the Ukrainians are preparing for the worst-case scenario. As tensions between Russia and Ukraine reach a boiling point, world leaders and diplomats shuffle among Washington, Moscow and Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, to avert a war, which many fear would be catastrophic. The same has been running around the minds of Indian students who are living in Ukraine. There are around 20,000 Indian students studying medical and engineering in the east European country. Indians form the biggest student group in Ukraine. Most of them come here to study medicine. There are two reasons for that. One, it is affordable. Medical education here is cheaper than in India. And two, the degrees that they get are recognised both in Europe and in India, so students come here in large numbers. WION visited the country’s prestigious varsity, Taras Shevchenko National University, in Kyiv to talk to students and understand their life under the spectre of conflict. As war brews on the border, a sense of worry is palpable in the dormitory. On the face of it, life looks normal on the campus, but the threat of war has been weighing on the mind of these students. “There are things that are happening overnight. All we are doing is waiting for the updates,” said Shashank, a student at Taras Shevchenko National University. Expressing similar views, another student says, “I have been here for three years and there has always been a talk of war. But this time it is more serious than before. Let’s see, the US, India are doing things. I don’t think there should be a war. But it is slightly unpredictable.” These students are not only concerned for their safety, but they also worry about their Ukrainian friends. “If war happens, we can always go back and create our life in India. We have the option to make our future brighter. Many of us come from a middle-class background, and if anything (war) happens, it will massively impact us. But we still can go back. Whereas, I worry for my Ukrainian friends. I feel that they might lose their independence,” said Madhu Mohan, a fourth-year MBBS student at Taras Shevchenko National University. Students are banking on the Indian embassy in Kyiv, as they have been evacuated once before. At the beginning of the pandemic, hundreds of students were flown to India through the Vande Bharat mission. Around two weeks back, the Indian embassy in Kyiv drew up a list, asking the students to fill up forms to collate their information in case they need to be evacuated if a war breaks out. They say that if any conflict arises, New Delhi will ensure their safety. “We think we are in safe hands because we are in constant touch with the (Indian) embassy. If there is any kind of evacuation, the embassy is going to take measures accordingly,” said Shashank. Most of the classes have been going online because of the pandemic. Some students have gone back home while some stayed.

Life under the spectre of war: WION speaks to Indian students in Ukraine's Kyiv

Ukrainian and Russian officials met in the German capital for talks on ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine but nearly nine hours of talks failed to produce a breakthrough on signing a joint document. However, both sides have agreed to keep talks with French and German officials aimed at ending an eight-year separators conflict in eastern Ukraine but the lack of progress marked a setback for efforts to defuse the crisis. For more insights on this, we are joined by WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma live from Ukraine.

British PM Boris Johnson warns of 'Bloodshed' as diplomacy deadlock on Ukraine conflict continues

Will Russia use military drills as pretext for war? Do Ukrainian forces stand a chance against the Russian Juggernaut. Palki Sharma decodes Ukraine's options with Volodymyr Solohub & Katharine Quinn-Judge.

Gravitas Ukraine Direct: Will Ukraine survive war? WION interviews Volodymyr Solohub & Katharine Quinn-Judge

The room for diplomacy is shrinking in the Ukraine Conflict. Military drills have begun, evacuation plans have been approved. Is war now inevitable? Palki Sharma decodes the possibilities with WION's correspondents from Moscow, Washington, London & Brussels.

Gravitas Ukraine Direct: Ukraine Conflict: Diplomacy fails to deliver

In 1990, NATO promised to never enter Russia's sphere of influence in eastern Europe. Since then, the alliance has expanded to include 14 European nations, including Russia's neighbours. Palki Sharma tells you about NATO's betrayal.

Gravitas Ukraine Direct: Did NATO betray Russia?

20,000 Indian Students are currently in Ukraine. How are they coping up under the spectre of war? How safe will they be if Russia invades? Palki Sharma interviewed students studying at the Taras Shevchenko University in Kyiv. Here's what they told her.

Gravitas Ukraine Direct: Are Indians in Ukraine safe? WION interviews Indian Students

Ukrainian and Russian officials met in the German capital for talks on ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine but nearly nine hours of talks failed to produce a breakthrough on signing a joint document. However, both sides have agreed to keep talks with French and German officials aimed at ending an eight-year separators conflict in eastern Ukraine but the lack of progress marked a setback for efforts to defuse the crisis.

Berlin talks fail to yield any breakthrough in defusing Ukraine conflict with Russia

The United States has asked the Americans living in Ukraine to leave the country as tensions mount over the Ukraine crisis. The diplomacy deadlock on the Ukraine conflict continues.

The US urges Americans in Ukraine to leave as diplomacy deadlock on Ukraine conflict continues

Russia and Belarus are well into conducting their joint military drills not even hundreds of kilometres away from Kyiv. Tensions remain high as both Russia and Ukraine are staging military exercises and are set to continue till the 20th of February. This comes even as leaders on all sides expressed their wish to continue diplomacy and dialogue to de-escalate tensions.

Russia, Ukraine hold simultaneous drills amid rising tensions

All this mayhem in Europe has put the indo-pacific on the back burner. Nobody is talking about the South China Sea but that may change very soon. The QUAD foreign ministers are meeting in Australia are all meeting in the first physical summit since the White House meeting last year.

Key QUAD meet today in Australia; China aggression, Ukraine crisis on agenda

After a slew of diplomatic meetings trying to deescalate tensions over Ukraine, French president Emmanuel Macron briefed his US counterpart Joe Biden about his meetings with the top leaders. WION's correspondent Susan Tehrani brings in more information on this.

Russia-Ukraine tensions: Macron talks with Biden about his diplomatic meets with Putin and Zelensky

Last week, Ukrainian legislators held up the flags of countries providing military and diplomatic assistance to Ukraine as it faces the threat of a Russian invasion. The flags of the United States, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Poland and Turkey all jostled for space. One, however, was conspicuous by its absence: the black, red and gold of Germany.

It was a fitting rebuke. Over the past few weeks, as Europe has seemingly approached the brink of war, Germany has been the odd man out. While the United States, Britain and Poland delivered weapons to Ukraine, the German government stoutly refused to do the same — and even seemed to block a transfer of weapons previously sold to Estonia. Across the continent, criticism has been fierce.

For Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who on Monday met with President Biden in Washington, it’s been a trial by fire. In office since December and at the head of a new coalition government, he has struggled to gain control of a situation that threatens to torpedo his authority. It’s a stark contrast to the way Angela Merkel stepped up after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Through active and energetic diplomacy, Ms. Merkel was able to bring about a cease-fire and something approaching a settlement. Under similar pressure, her successor has gone missing.

But the problem goes beyond Mr. Scholz to Germany itself. The crisis in Ukraine puts to the sword many of the country’s central assumptions about its role in the world. Wedded to the past and conflicted in the present, Germany — at least when it comes to foreign policy — looks stuck. But now is not the time to be indecisive. It needs to assert itself as a power broker and unify Europe’s response to Russian aggression.

The first difficulty, of course, is historical. Determined not to repeat the horrors of the past, the country is extremely wary about military engagement. That caution extends to weapons, which are generally not sold to conflict zones or when they could become instruments of human rights violations. In practice, economic interests often overrule principles: Saudi Arabia and Egypt receive German weaponry. Yet with Russia, the issue is particularly fraught. Never again, goes the catechism, shall German weapons be used to kill Russian citizens.

These historical arguments are not particularly useful in the 21st century. But Germany just can’t get over them: Pacifism and history are deeply ingrained in our public debate and particularly in the political culture of two of the three parties currently governing the country, the Greens and the Social Democrats.

For Mr. Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, relations with Russia are an especially emotional and contested issue. The party prides itself on its change-through-rapprochement approach during the Cold War, and many members defend the notion that Germany’s role is to be a buffer between the United States and Russia rather than to clearly side with the West. It’s a narrative rooted in nostalgia and idealism, but it has a cynical side: The party’s defense for Nord Stream 2, the controversial pipeline built to deliver more Russian gas to Europe, often clads straightforward economic interests in the gown of historical dignity.

For the Green Party, the second largest in Germany’s so-called Traffic Light coalition, the situation is no less sensitive. Founded out of the peace and ecological movements in 1980, it opposed the deployment of American nuclear weapons to Germany and rearmament generally. The party’s position has since evolved, but Russia’s threat to Ukraine has caught the Greens at a difficult moment. After a slightly disappointing election result in September, tensions within the party — over cabinet positions, internal reforms and political priorities — are high. It is, in short, a bad moment to take an ax to a central pillar of party identity.

Then there’s the coalition itself, formed two months ago and keen to show it can provide stable rule. With domestic problems mounting — rising prices, pandemic restrictions and ambitious decarbonization plans threaten the country’s uneasy equilibrium — the government may have decided not to risk its unity over a foreign policy issue. Its caution, after all, is in step with national opinion at large: A recent survey showed that 59 percent of Germans oppose delivering weapons to Ukraine, while only 20 percent approve.

Taken together, it amounts to a difficult brief for Mr. Scholz. And it’s clear that, so far, he’s struggled to meet the moment. Criticism abroad — Latvia’s defense minister called Germany’s reluctance to arm Ukraine “immoral” and “hypocritical” — has been more sharply expressed but no more pointed than at home, where Mr. Scholz has been derided as almost invisible. (On Twitter, #WoIstScholz — “Where is Scholz?” — became something between a lament and a joke.) His personal approval ratings have sunk 17 percentage points, according to a recent poll, and his party’s standing has also taken a hit. After Ms. Merkel’s long tenure, Mr. Scholz is discovering just how hard the job can be. It’s not just Germany he’s struggling to lead; it’s Europe, too.

Yet Mr. Scholz maintains that the country is taking the right path. In a television interview last week, he stressed that Germany has invested $2 billion in Ukraine in recent years. Building a country’s resilience, a senior government official told me, means helping it to defend itself. The chancellery appears to deem weapon deliveries to Ukraine purely symbolic — a costly exercise politically, with little actual impact. And officials were quick to underline Germany’s leading presence in NATO’s deployment, since 2017, of troops to Poland and the Baltic States. On Monday, the country announced it would send 350 more soldiers to defend NATO’s eastern flank.

Is this just the usual German delusion? Is the country just making excuses for pursuing business as usual? Yes and no. Germany is certainly reluctant to leave its comfort zone, as its hesitancy — nowhere better captured than in its offer to send Ukraine helmets rather than missiles — clearly betrays. But some things have changed.

For one thing, some Social Democrats appear willing to leave behind the idea of a special relationship with Russia. “We don’t want a special role for Germany,” Michael Roth, a Social Democrat who heads the Foreign Affairs Committee, told me. This is a significant development and means that Nord Stream 2 is, for the first time, genuinely on the line. As Annalena Baerbock, the foreign minister (and a co-leader of the Green Party), made clear to her Russian counterpart in January: Germany is prepared to act, even if “such measures hurt us economically.”

In the context of the past, it’s a bold statement. But these nuances are not as easy to grasp as boots on the ground. On Monday, Mr. Scholz, addressing Mr. Biden by his first name, sought to bolster the trans-Atlantic alliance. “We are absolutely united,” he said. There’s no reason, really, to doubt it. But it may still take some convincing.

Last week, Ukrainian legislators held up the flags of countries providing military and diplomatic assistance to Ukraine as it faces the threat of a Russian invasion.

Last week, Ukrainian legislators held up the flags of countries providing military and diplomatic assistance to Ukraine as it faces the threat of a Russian invasion. The flags of the United States, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Poland and Turkey all jostled for space. One, however, was conspicuous by its absence: the black, red and gold of Germany. It was a fitting rebuke. Over the past few weeks, as Europe has seemingly approached the brink of war, Germany has been the odd man out. While the United States, Britain and Poland delivered weapons to Ukraine, the German government stoutly refused to do the same — and even seemed to block a transfer of weapons previously sold to Estonia. Across the continent, criticism has been fierce. For Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who on Monday met with President Biden in Washington, it’s been a trial by fire. In office since December and at the head of a new coalition government, he has struggled to gain control of a situation that threatens to torpedo his authority. It’s a stark contrast to the way Angela Merkel stepped up after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Through active and energetic diplomacy, Ms. Merkel was able to bring about a cease-fire and something approaching a settlement. Under similar pressure, her successor has gone missing. But the problem goes beyond Mr. Scholz to Germany itself. The crisis in Ukraine puts to the sword many of the country’s central assumptions about its role in the world. Wedded to the past and conflicted in the present, Germany — at least when it comes to foreign policy — looks stuck. But now is not the time to be indecisive. It needs to assert itself as a power broker and unify Europe’s response to Russian aggression. The first difficulty, of course, is historical. Determined not to repeat the horrors of the past, the country is extremely wary about military engagement. That caution extends to weapons, which are generally not sold to conflict zones or when they could become instruments of human rights violations. In practice, economic interests often overrule principles: Saudi Arabia and Egypt receive German weaponry. Yet with Russia, the issue is particularly fraught. Never again, goes the catechism, shall German weapons be used to kill Russian citizens. These historical arguments are not particularly useful in the 21st century. But Germany just can’t get over them: Pacifism and history are deeply ingrained in our public debate and particularly in the political culture of two of the three parties currently governing the country, the Greens and the Social Democrats. For Mr. Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, relations with Russia are an especially emotional and contested issue. The party prides itself on its change-through-rapprochement approach during the Cold War, and many members defend the notion that Germany’s role is to be a buffer between the United States and Russia rather than to clearly side with the West. It’s a narrative rooted in nostalgia and idealism, but it has a cynical side: The party’s defense for Nord Stream 2, the controversial pipeline built to deliver more Russian gas to Europe, often clads straightforward economic interests in the gown of historical dignity. For the Green Party, the second largest in Germany’s so-called Traffic Light coalition, the situation is no less sensitive. Founded out of the peace and ecological movements in 1980, it opposed the deployment of American nuclear weapons to Germany and rearmament generally. The party’s position has since evolved, but Russia’s threat to Ukraine has caught the Greens at a difficult moment. After a slightly disappointing election result in September, tensions within the party — over cabinet positions, internal reforms and political priorities — are high. It is, in short, a bad moment to take an ax to a central pillar of party identity. Then there’s the coalition itself, formed two months ago and keen to show it can provide stable rule. With domestic problems mounting — rising prices, pandemic restrictions and ambitious decarbonization plans threaten the country’s uneasy equilibrium — the government may have decided not to risk its unity over a foreign policy issue. Its caution, after all, is in step with national opinion at large: A recent survey showed that 59 percent of Germans oppose delivering weapons to Ukraine, while only 20 percent approve. Taken together, it amounts to a difficult brief for Mr. Scholz. And it’s clear that, so far, he’s struggled to meet the moment. Criticism abroad — Latvia’s defense minister called Germany’s reluctance to arm Ukraine “immoral” and “hypocritical” — has been more sharply expressed but no more pointed than at home, where Mr. Scholz has been derided as almost invisible. (On Twitter, #WoIstScholz — “Where is Scholz?” — became something between a lament and a joke.) His personal approval ratings have sunk 17 percentage points, according to a recent poll, and his party’s standing has also taken a hit. After Ms. Merkel’s long tenure, Mr. Scholz is discovering just how hard the job can be. It’s not just Germany he’s struggling to lead; it’s Europe, too. Yet Mr. Scholz maintains that the country is taking the right path. In a television interview last week, he stressed that Germany has invested $2 billion in Ukraine in recent years. Building a country’s resilience, a senior government official told me, means helping it to defend itself. The chancellery appears to deem weapon deliveries to Ukraine purely symbolic — a costly exercise politically, with little actual impact. And officials were quick to underline Germany’s leading presence in NATO’s deployment, since 2017, of troops to Poland and the Baltic States. On Monday, the country announced it would send 350 more soldiers to defend NATO’s eastern flank. Is this just the usual German delusion? Is the country just making excuses for pursuing business as usual? Yes and no. Germany is certainly reluctant to leave its comfort zone, as its hesitancy — nowhere better captured than in its offer to send Ukraine helmets rather than missiles — clearly betrays. But some things have changed. For one thing, some Social Democrats appear willing to leave behind the idea of a special relationship with Russia. “We don’t want a special role for Germany,” Michael Roth, a Social Democrat who heads the Foreign Affairs Committee, told me. This is a significant development and means that Nord Stream 2 is, for the first time, genuinely on the line. As Annalena Baerbock, the foreign minister (and a co-leader of the Green Party), made clear to her Russian counterpart in January: Germany is prepared to act, even if “such measures hurt us economically.” In the context of the past, it’s a bold statement. But these nuances are not as easy to grasp as boots on the ground. On Monday, Mr. Scholz, addressing Mr. Biden by his first name, sought to bolster the trans-Atlantic alliance. “We are absolutely united,” he said. There’s no reason, really, to doubt it. But it may still take some convincing.

Europe is on the brink of war, and Germany has gone missing

What options does Ukraine have? Can it take a tougher line against Russia? Palki Sharma spoke to Independent Journalist Olga Tokariuk & Political Consultant Andrii Telizhenko to understand the sentiments on ground.

Gravitas Ukraine Direct: What are Ukraine's options? | WION interviews Olga Tokariuk & Andrii Telizhenko

WION's executive editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay brings exclusive ground report from Kyiv, Ukraine. She sheds more insights on why Minsk agreement of 2014 might not be a solution that Macron could be looking for.

Can Minsk accords defuse tensions? Maybe Not, Palki Sharma tells you why

Amid growing fears of a Russian invasion, world leaders have underlined the importance of finding a solution and diffusing tensions. Our correspondent Jodie Cohen spoke to Dr Vera Michlin- Shapir who has worked at Israel's national security council she also has an experience of working in the Prime Minister's office, let's listen into this exclusive conversation.

Minsk agreement a solution for Russia-Ukraine crisis? | Dr Vera Michlin Shapir Exclusive

French President Emanuel Macron has embarked on his shuttle diplomacy in an attempt to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine as a threat of war looms large in eastern Europe.

After holding a marathon talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Macron arrived in Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

With more than 100,000 Russian troops amassed near the Ukraine borders, there have been claims of the Russian invasion.

After meeting Putin, Macron claimed that he received assurances from Kremlin that they would reduce escalations against Ukraine—which Moscow has denied.

Even though conflicting views were aired, Dr Vera Michlin-Shapir, a visiting research fellow at King’s College London, claims that there might be something to gain out of the talks.

Michlin-Shapir had previously worked at Israel’s National Security Council and in the Prime Minister’s Office. She is an expert on Russia-Israel-Ukraine relations.

Excerpts:

WION: As French President Macron conducts shuttle diplomacy, we’re seeing somewhat conflicting messages coming from Russia and Ukraine. What’s the latest on this?

<a name="_Hlk95338149">Michlin-Shapir</a>: We are still in the midst of the process, obviously there will be conflicting messages, as each actor (state) wants to position. At the end of the day what matters is what comes out of Kremlin.

It seems that they have something to gain out of the talks being pivoted by President Macron.

WION: The Ukrainian FM has indicated that there is a deep cooperation between Israel and Ukraine, and that Ukraine is interested in helping with air defences from Israel. Now Israel, like many countries, has relations with Ukraine and Russia...but it’s also in a tricky situation because of the large Jewish communities in both countries…Do you think Israel will share, perhaps its Iron Dome technology, to help Ukraine defend itself from any missile attack?

Michlin-Shapir: In this kind of relationship (i.e. Israel-Ukraine and Israel-Russia) one of the things not being mentioned is the relationship Israel has with the US. And in many ways, it decides Israel's direction. Now, Israel also has Russia at its Northern flank with Syria, with whom it has a very strategic relationship.

Now, Russia has bilateral relations with Syria and is also eager to help Israel with its security.&nbsp;Israel has communities in Russia and also in Ukraine.&nbsp;

In sensitive issues like sharing its advanced weapons systems, Israel works in coordination with the US.&nbsp;

WION: Israeli Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, has reportedly been speaking with both Ukraine and Russia. Last week he said that he does not believe there will soon be a violent conflict between the two countries. What’s your assessment?

Michlin-Shapir: In both Russia and Ukraine, you can see a diminished sense of conflict. The imminence of conflict is actually coming from the US.

Their intelligence community is assessing the conflict to be imminent, which is different from what we are hearing from Ukraine and Russia.

The US intelligence is apparently basing its assessment on what's happening at the border. And what is being observed at the borders is amassing of troops.

WION: Are there any meeting grounds between Russia and Ukraine, with Moscow underlining the Minsk agreement &amp; Ukraine consenting as well? Or there are sticking points within still?

Michlin-Shapir: One of the biggest sticking points is that both sides may have something to gain.

The cost to Russia is lesser as it's richer, bigger and stronger. For Ukraine, it would be devastating, similar to the one they underwent eight years ago, when Crimea was annexed in 2014.

Now, Macron is trying to create a common ground,&nbsp;since&nbsp;there is nothing to gain out of the conflict.&nbsp; And this is what makes it so difficult to reach an agreement

So, maybe a lack of political will at this point can be blamed.

French President Emanuel Macron has embarked on his shuttle diplomacy in an attempt to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine as a threat of war looms large in eastern Europe.

French President Emanuel Macron has embarked on his shuttle diplomacy in an attempt to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine as a threat of war looms large in eastern Europe. After holding a marathon talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Macron arrived in Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. With more than 100,000 Russian troops amassed near the Ukraine borders, there have been claims of the Russian invasion. After meeting Putin, Macron claimed that he received assurances from Kremlin that they would reduce escalations against Ukraine—which Moscow has denied. Even though conflicting views were aired, Dr Vera Michlin-Shapir, a visiting research fellow at King’s College London, claims that there might be something to gain out of the talks. Michlin-Shapir had previously worked at Israel’s National Security Council and in the Prime Minister’s Office. She is an expert on Russia-Israel-Ukraine relations. Excerpts: WION: As French President Macron conducts shuttle diplomacy, we’re seeing somewhat conflicting messages coming from Russia and Ukraine. What’s the latest on this? Michlin-Shapir: We are still in the midst of the process, obviously there will be conflicting messages, as each actor (state) wants to position. At the end of the day what matters is what comes out of Kremlin. It seems that they have something to gain out of the talks being pivoted by President Macron. WION: The Ukrainian FM has indicated that there is a deep cooperation between Israel and Ukraine, and that Ukraine is interested in helping with air defences from Israel. Now Israel, like many countries, has relations with Ukraine and Russia...but it’s also in a tricky situation because of the large Jewish communities in both countries…Do you think Israel will share, perhaps its Iron Dome technology, to help Ukraine defend itself from any missile attack? Michlin-Shapir: In this kind of relationship (i.e. Israel-Ukraine and Israel-Russia) one of the things not being mentioned is the relationship Israel has with the US. And in many ways, it decides Israel's direction. Now, Israel also has Russia at its Northern flank with Syria, with whom it has a very strategic relationship. Now, Russia has bilateral relations with Syria and is also eager to help Israel with its security. Israel has communities in Russia and also in Ukraine. In sensitive issues like sharing its advanced weapons systems, Israel works in coordination with the US. WION: Israeli Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, has reportedly been speaking with both Ukraine and Russia. Last week he said that he does not believe there will soon be a violent conflict between the two countries. What’s your assessment? Michlin-Shapir: In both Russia and Ukraine, you can see a diminished sense of conflict. The imminence of conflict is actually coming from the US. Their intelligence community is assessing the conflict to be imminent, which is different from what we are hearing from Ukraine and Russia. The US intelligence is apparently basing its assessment on what's happening at the border. And what is being observed at the borders is amassing of troops. WION: Are there any meeting grounds between Russia and Ukraine, with Moscow underlining the Minsk agreement & Ukraine consenting as well? Or there are sticking points within still? Michlin-Shapir: One of the biggest sticking points is that both sides may have something to gain. The cost to Russia is lesser as it's richer, bigger and stronger. For Ukraine, it would be devastating, similar to the one they underwent eight years ago, when Crimea was annexed in 2014. Now, Macron is trying to create a common ground, since there is nothing to gain out of the conflict. And this is what makes it so difficult to reach an agreement So, maybe a lack of political will at this point can be blamed.

Something might be gained out of Macron’s meeting with Ukraine: Expert to WION

Ukrainian troops are bracing themselves for a Russian juggernaut. Joining them are 17,000 foreign fighters from 27 countries. Palki Sharma travelled to the headquarters of the Georgia National Legion which is training these fighters for war. Here's a ground report.

Gravitas Ukraine Direct: Inside Ukraine's training camp for foreign fighters

NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Brussels amid Russia-Ukraine conflict. The leaders have called the situation the most dangerous moment in European security. Palki Sharma tells you more.

UK: Russia is actively threatening a sovereign nation

Antony Blinken is expected to raise the Ukraine stand-off at the foreign ministers' meeting of the QUAD. Is Washington trying to drag its pacific allies into the crisis? How must the QUAD respond? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas Ukraine Direct: US to raise Russia-Ukraine stand-off at QUAD meet?

European capitals are buzzing with diplomacy as leaders race against time to defuse the stand-off near Ukraine. France, Germany and Poland have pledged to avert war at a trilateral summit in Berlin. Palki Sharma gets you a round-up of diplomacy week in Europe.

Gravitas Ukraine Direct: European leaders pledge to avert war

During a press conference in Moscow, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday discussed rising tensions over Russia-Ukraine borders. Truss said that the Russia-Ukraine situation is threatening and that the former needs to move its troops, equipment stationed on the Ukrainian border elsewhere.

Ukraine Crisis: UK, Russia's foreign ministers hold PC amid rising tensions

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a stern warning on Thursday saying that western threats to Moscow would do little to de-escalate tensions over Ukraine.

His comments came during a meeting with British Foreign Minister Liz Truss in Moscow during the latest round of diplomatic meetings aimed at normalising the tense situation over Ukraine.

"Ideological approaches, ultimatums, threats — this is the road to nowhere," AFP quoted Lavrov as saying at the start of talks.

The Russian foreign minister lashed out at diplomats in the European capitals and Washington for using threats and ultimatums against Russia, saying that their approach was undiplomatic.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-crisis-russia-continues-to-deploy-more-forces-adding-tactical-groups-says-us-451895">Ukraine crisis: Russia continues to deploy more forces, adding tactical groups, says US</a>

The European countries have been tense ever since reports emerged that Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukraine borders, triggering fears of an invasion.

In her opening remarks, Truss said Britain “cannot ignore” the build-up of troops on Ukraine's border or “attempts to undermine Ukrainian sovereignty.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/russias-dagger-on-ukraine-kinzhal-hypersonic-missiles-can-degrade-high-value-targets-447431">Also Read in Pics|&nbsp;Russia's 'Dagger' on Ukraine: Kinzhal hypersonic missiles can degrade high value targets</a>

“There is an alternative route, a diplomatic route that avoids conflict and bloodshed,” she said, adding, “I am here to urge Russia to take that path.”

The meeting in Moscow comes ahead of another between Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in Moscow on Friday. &nbsp;

There has been a flurry of diplomatic talks this week between the European leaders and Russia over fears that Ukraine escalation could lead to a war-like situation in eastern Europe.

On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron met Vladimir Putin in Moscow and then visited Ukraine the next day in an attempt to defuse the ongoing tension.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a stern warning on Thursday saying that western threats to Moscow would do little to de-escalate tensions over Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a stern warning on Thursday saying that western threats to Moscow would do little to de-escalate tensions over Ukraine. His comments came during a meeting with British Foreign Minister Liz Truss in Moscow during the latest round of diplomatic meetings aimed at normalising the tense situation over Ukraine. "Ideological approaches, ultimatums, threats — this is the road to nowhere," AFP quoted Lavrov as saying at the start of talks. The Russian foreign minister lashed out at diplomats in the European capitals and Washington for using threats and ultimatums against Russia, saying that their approach was undiplomatic. Also read | Ukraine crisis: Russia continues to deploy more forces, adding tactical groups, says US The European countries have been tense ever since reports emerged that Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukraine borders, triggering fears of an invasion. In her opening remarks, Truss said Britain “cannot ignore” the build-up of troops on Ukraine's border or “attempts to undermine Ukrainian sovereignty.” Also Read in Pics| Russia's 'Dagger' on Ukraine: Kinzhal hypersonic missiles can degrade high value targets “There is an alternative route, a diplomatic route that avoids conflict and bloodshed,” she said, adding, “I am here to urge Russia to take that path.” The meeting in Moscow comes ahead of another between Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in Moscow on Friday. There has been a flurry of diplomatic talks this week between the European leaders and Russia over fears that Ukraine escalation could lead to a war-like situation in eastern Europe. On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron met Vladimir Putin in Moscow and then visited Ukraine the next day in an attempt to defuse the ongoing tension. (With inputs from agencies)

Ultimatums, threats from West on Ukraine won’t work against Russia, says foreign minister

During a press conference on Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and PM Boris Johnson warned Russia, saying NATO is deploying more forces to its eastern member states and that Russia's behaviour would not deter them. NATO is ready to engage with Russia on de-escalation and arms control, said both leaders.

Ukraine Crisis: PM Johnson, NATO Chief refer Russian build up as 'dangerous moment'

Ukraine on Thursday started previously announced military drills after Russia launched a joint military exercise in Belarus. Ukraine's Defense Minister said the military exercises will run till February 20, using Bayraktar drones, anti-tank Javelin and NLAW missiles.

Ukraine begins military drills as Russia, Belarus conduct joint military exercise

Russia has started 10 days of joint military drills with Belarus amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Belarus is a close ally of Russia and shares a long border with Ukraine.

Ukraine Crisis: Russia begins military drills with Belarus

Ukraine was once the third-largest nuclear power on earth after the Cold War. The Soviet collapse led the country to inherit roughly 5,000 nuclear arms, which it gave away for nothing, as per experts. The deadly weapons were said to be the only reliable means to deter Russian aggression.

Ukraine Crisis: How giving up nuclear arsenal turned out its biggest regret

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said that the leaders of both Russia and Ukraine had committed to honouring the Minsk accord.

French President Emmanuel Macron says Putin & Zelensky committed to Minsk accord

Ukraine is filling the heat with tensions at their highest in years. Russia is expanding its military buildup near Ukraine's border sparring fears of an invasion, the western alliance is bulking up its troops along eastern Europe and Ukraine is preparing to defend its country if the ongoing diplomatic efforts fail.

Amid fears of Russian invasion, Ukrainian citizens take lessons on guns and first aid

The drumbeats of war are getting louder things may be calm in Ukraine right now but the country is surrounded by troops and military exercises. American troops are settling into Poland their humvees and weapons have arrived, the NATO is looking to make it permanent as the alliance is considering long-term deployments of troops in eastern Europe.

Russia-Ukraine crisis: US soldiers, humvee arrive in Poland; NATO considering long-term deployment

How will Ukraine defend itself from Russian Bombs? Where will the people take cover? WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma stepped inside a bomb-shelter which will be key to Kyiv's survival. Here's a report on what she saw.

Gravitas Ukraine Direct: Wion goes inside a bomb-shelter in Kyiv | Special Report by Palki Sharma Upadhyay

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Kyiv after an epic misfire in Moscow. The Kremlin has rejected Macron's claims that Putin agreed to 'no escalation'. Can Macron salvage his diplomatic mission with a win in Kyiv? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas Ukraine Direct: Putin uses 'rape joke' to insult Ukraine

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