Approximate US President Donald Trump is often accused of being too friendly with Russia, "but about the new American special envoy in Ukraine, which holds the first talks there this week, this can not be said," writes the columnist for the Swiss Die Presse, Cita Affentrantger.

"Russia is huge, Russia is important, and we do not want a conflict with it," Kurt Volker said in an interview with BBC shortly before his appointment. But on this all the courtesies ended. Volcker believes that "Russia should not get out of hand anymore, it's necessary to behave tough". "I am convinced that Russia will be frightened of direct confrontation, since it knows that it will not survive it," he said.. To the remark of the BBC journalist that in the event of an exchange of nuclear strikes none of the parties will survive, Volcker replied: "That's why it will not come to this. And if we do not take into account nuclear weapons, then Russia is in a weaker position than we are ".

Volker also spoke in support of Ukraine: "Comprehensive support from the US - the issue of its own security. It meets our national interests ". Volcker criticizes the Minsk accords. As he wrote recently in the article for Foreign Policy, "they are half-measures": "Minsk agreements are not a peace treaty that can serve the purpose of restoring Ukraine's sovereignty".

Volcker does not trust European mediators and, above all, German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In his opinion, if "the ceasefire regime continues, European leaders will have a false sense of success" and they "lose interest in Ukraine," the newspaper reports..

For Volkera, the European position is unacceptable, according to which "the Ukrainian conflict can not have a military solution and it is impossible to arm Ukraine". "This is madness. This is a military conflict. And there will be a military solution. The question is only how it will look, "Volcker said in Washington.

"Military power is extremely important, and we should not be afraid to deal with this issue," continued the special envoy advocating large-scale military assistance for Kiev. "Washington must rely on deterrence. Only if we are unshakable, including in the event of an aggravation of the situation, will we be able to convince Vladimir Putin that the price for him personally and for Russia will be high, "says Volcker.

Observers regard Volcker's appointment as a special envoy as a sign that the US wants to participate in resolving the conflict around Ukraine, sums up Affentranger.