Gesine Dornblüth, freelance journalist. She says: "We've seen it all before: the Kremlin triggers an escalation and then blames the West. But Moscow is the aggressor and there must be consequences."

 

 

Alexander Rahr, author and analyst. He says "The phone call between presidents Biden and Putin helped to de-escalate the crisis and to avoid a possible full-blown conflict."

 

 

 

Roman Goncharenko, editor in DW's Russia Department: "Russia is using bullying tactics to press ahead with its creeping annexation of Donbass. Ukraine must stay calm.“