Joe Biden is concerned that NATO members might block his plans to send as many as 8500 soldiers to Eastern Europe. This would anger Vladimir Putin.
To deter any further Russian aggression, the U.S. President wants to send US troops to Ukraine and other countries as part of NATO forces.
He is worried that member states might block the movement, fearing hosting troops or enrage Putin.
Only one NATO member has the right to veto the proposal.
Biden reserves the right to unilaterally or bilaterally act with the UK standing firm behind him.
While he already has 8,500 US troops in standby, yesterday he said that he might deploy only 1,000 to NATO forces.
As Europe moves closer to war, he will call Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian President.
This week, the Pentagon stated that troops will be deployed in accordance with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Response Force (NRF).
The Washington Post points out that to be able to move U.S. troops logistically, Lt. General Tod Wolfers, Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, would need to call NATO in order to obtain movement permissions for NRF deployments.
One Defense official stated to the Post that there is a lot of trust that many countries of the North Atlantic Council, if the Supreme All-Allied Commander calls up NATO Response Force, will be already onboard.
“If they call, I am pretty sure that they will be able make a decision quickly.”
Countries that don’t want U.S. troops based there could block Biden’s future moves as some NATO nations – like France, Germany, Hungary and Turkey – want to develop closer ties with Moscow.
Over the weekend, reports surfaced that President Obama is contemplating sending as many as 50,000 troops into the region in the event of a Russian invasion.
Concerns are growing that President Joe Biden may be blocked by some NATO allies from deployment U.S. forces to Eastern Europe and the Baltic region if he tries to use the NATO Response Force (NRF). Only one country could block this move
Biden already has 8,500 soldiers on alert to be deployed to Eastern Europe and to the Baltics in case Russia invades Ukraine. But he still needs to get the unanimous support of all NATO member countries to proceed with deployment
Some NATO nations – like France, Germany, Hungary and Turkey – don’t want U.S. forces stationed there so they can develop closer ties with Moscow. Pictured: U.S soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division training in the snow as 8,500 troops were put on heightened alert for potential deployment to Eastern Europe
Biden however claims that he’s spoken to all thirty NATO Allies, and that they are now in agreement about sending him reinforcement troops into Eastern Europe.
In talks with Germany’s Scholz at the White House on February 7, Biden may try to persuade him to support some of D.C. strategic moves in Europe – including troop deployment and pulling the plug on the Germany-to-Russia Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Putin invades.
The White House stated Thursday that “Chancellor Scholz’s Visit provides an Opportunity to Reaffirm the Deep and Enduring Ties Between the United States And Germany,” in a statement about the impending visit.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced that the leaders would discuss their common commitment to ongoing diplomacy as well as joint efforts to prevent further Russian aggression towards Ukraine. “They will discuss their shared commitment to both ongoing diplomacy and joint efforts to deter Russian aggression against Ukraine,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in the announcement. She added that the leaders would also talk about the need for continued cooperation on various common issues, such as ending the COVID-19 Pandemic and dealing with climate change. They will also focus on the importance of promoting international prosperity and security based upon our democratic shared values.
NATO member countries bordering Russia and Ukraine might need to convince Russia friendly ally nations for support.
France, Germany Hungary, Turkey, and Hungary have resisted any move they perceive as a provocation to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to a top GOP official, “It’s slow bureaucratic that outsources security interest leaders in Germany Hungary and Turkey who would each have an veto.”
“Putin is well-versed in the bureaucratic nature NATO operates, and I am sure he will also be adept at exploiting the NATO divisions and that bureaucracy,” they said.
Emanuel Macron, the French president, stated Tuesday that Russia has become a source of instability. He also claimed that his foreign affairs personnel are working to involve Putin in any deescalation plans.
As Putin sent him two letters dismissing top security requests regarding Ukraine, the entire world holds its breath as he responds.
Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated Thursday that Putin was still considering letters from NATO chief Jens Sloltenburg, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Dmitry Peskov.
While details are not known, it seems that NATO allies and the U.S. thought the U.K. would ban Ukraine from NATO as well as the possible removal of former Soviet-era forces.
Moscow’s Foreign Ministry received Blinken’s letter late Wednesday night. Ambassador John Sullivan was present to hand over the letter in person. He was seen walking out of the building, with a black leather folder, as snow fell.
While giving little ground on Russia’s main demands, Blinken said the letter does present ‘serious’ offers to de-escalate tensions – thought to include controls on nuclear arms and limits on military exercises.
Peskov stated that there was ‘little reason to be optimistic’ following an initial reading, and that Moscow’s major concerns were being ignored. However, he left open the possibility of additional talks – at most for now. He said, “We won’t hurry with our assessments.”
Separately Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister, sent the same letter It contains elements that may lead to “the beginning of a serious discussion on secondary issues”, but “contains no positive reaction on the main topic,”
Lavrov stated that top Russian officials would now send their suggestions to Putin and that he would respond’soon.
With the threat of war hanging heavy in the air, Russia’s troop build-up on Ukraine’s border continued today as Ukrainian troops were pictured training with British NLAW anti-tank weapons that were delivered last week as part of a package of UK military aid.
British instructors had been dispatched to instruct the Ukrainians on how to use the rockets. In preparation for the Russian invasion, Kiev’s troops were seen carrying their weapons around a fake battle zone. NLAWs can be used to destroy tanks using high-explosive weapons and tracking technology.
According to Western security sources, there are currently between 112,000-120,000 soldiers who can be deployed in combat readiness at the front. More troops could soon follow.[It]According to one source, there may be more.
Video footage also showed columns of fighter jets and armored vehicles being transported to Belarus. This was ostensibly in preparation for military exercises. However, it is possible that they will be used to attack Kiev just a few miles away.
Ukrainian troops learn how to use British NLAW Anti-Tank Weapons in Kiev. They were sent to Kiev last week as part military support for the ex Soviet Union.
British instructors are being sent to teach the Ukrainians. As part of their training, today’s photos show the Ukrainian troops moving in fake combat zones with weapons.
John Sullivan, US Ambassador in Russia, sends a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken from Moscow to the Russian Foreign Ministry. As the world awaits Putin’s reply
Vladimir Putin is present at a flower-laying event at the Motherland memorial at Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery. This ceremony marks the 78th anniversary today of Leningrad’s Siege.
As part of the preparations for a possible Russian invasion, two Ukrainian soldiers are pictured entering a British NLAW antitank weapon-carrying building.
Despite fears of Russia attacking, Ukrainian soldiers with British-made NLAW anti tank weapons participate in training exercises.
Russian Shilka mobile antiaircraft guns from Russian Shilka and Kornet T antitank missile carriers arrived in Gomel (Belarus), around 20 mi from the Ukraine border. It is only 130 miles from Kiev
Russian Shilka mobile anti aircraft guns, the Russian Shilka Mobile Anti-Aircraft Guns are shown arriving in Belarus by train. There is concern that this could be used for a lightning attack on Kiev, just 130 miles away
Putin visited the Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery in commemoration of the 78th Anniversary of Leningrad Siege
Five Ukrainian soldiers are killed in an attack on a military facility
Five people were killed and five others injured by a soldier of the Ukrainian National Guard at a military facility in Ukraine’s eastern.
Artem Ryabchuk shot and killed four soldiers and one civilian at the Pivdenmash Missile Factory in Dinpro, just 200 miles away from the Russian border. 100,000 Russian troops are also stationed there.
The killing spree occurred on the outskirts of the war-torn Donbas region which has been gripped by conflict between pro-Russian separatist rebels and government troops since 2014.
21-year-old soldier started attacking during weapons issuance, before he fled armed with a Kalashnikov.
Later, after hitchhiking to the scene of the attack as authorities conducted an hour-long manhunt, the gunman was detained.
While investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the attack, they are investigating how he was able to access the Kalashnikov rifle as well as 200 cartridges through a medical committee.
The team will examine whether any pressures were placed on the employee.
According to police, doctors continue fighting for the safety of the victims.
They were identified as: Senior Lieutenant Oleksandr Bulganov, 34; Senior soldier Artyom Levkivskyi 21, and Junior Sergeant Oleksandr Dragan 24, respectively. Senior Soldier Leonid Chenik, 19, was named, while senior soldier Vera Lebydinets 35, was named.
Names of the wounded included Denis Namestnik (19), Vladislav Gulida (22) and Igor Semenchenko (24). Zhanna Sharova (20) was also named. Yevgen Machula (20) was among them.
Denys Montastyrsky was the Interior Minister.
According to police, he was taken into custody in Pidgorodne near Dnipro. This is a town with around one million inhabitants.
In the midst of tensions, five people were killed and five others injured when a conscript from the Ukrainian National Guard opened fire at a central Ukrainian military facility. He was carrying a gun he received.
Artemiy Ryabchuk (21), opened fire in Dnipro, a city located on Dnieper River 170 miles away from Crimea. His motive for fleeing the scene is not known, and he is currently being sought by Ukrainian security forces.
This comes after experts said that Russia might launch covert strikes inside Ukraine.
After the initial letters were sent, Vice President Biden stepped up economic sanctions threats. He said that Nord Stream 2 – Russia’s $11billion pipeline to Germany – would be stopped if Ukraine attacked.
Germany, however, hasn’t given such a guarantee. It is also unclear what Biden will do to block the pipeline if Berlin doesn’t agree to it. Nord Stream 2 was completed last year, after Biden removed sanctions against the company that built it. It now needs German approval before it can start pumping gas.
Major combat readiness drills take place across eastern Europe (Baltic to Black seas), with the Russian Northern Fleet drilling in Arctic.
Video footage shows an exercise in live-fire against a “mock enemy” by the Aleksin, Kabardino Balkariya antisubmarine ship in the Baltic. These vessels form part of an 20-ship naval taskforce currently on the sea. A similar operation is underway in Black Sea.
A statement by the Russian Baltic Fleet stated that “the combat exercise was conducted at varying ranges using shipborne armillery weapons, AK-176M, and AK-630M.”
A pair of Su-24M frontline bombers and Su-30SM multirole fighters trained separately to bomb targets at Kaliningrad’s training facility. This Russian exclave is located between NATO members Lithuania and Poland.
The drills were also held at the same place as Mi-24 attack helicopters and Mi-8 bomber helicopters.
As a result of the successful transfer of Sukhoi Su-35S fighter planes from Russia’s extreme east, the Russian military presence in Belarus grew.
The footage depicts the arrival of warplanes in Belarus (autocratic Belarus that borders Ukraine), ostensibly for training exercises. But the West is afraid the West might invade Ukraine with its massings troops and military gear.
A separate video shows another drill that allows Su-35S fighters to be moved from Su-30SM airfields by an enemy missile strike.
It was also revealed elsewhere that thousands of Russian communication troops are participating in large-scale radio training as part of combat readiness exercises.
Colonel Alexander Zhuravlev of the Western Military District stated that more than 1500 military personnel were participating in the combat training exercise.
He stated that there are approximately 300 units military and high-tech equipment involved. These include the P-260 Redut and Andromeda complexes and Belozer.
Blinken indicated that he would talk to Lavrov in the following days. A separate French initiative brought an assurance by Moscow that they would at most keep speaking to Ukraine’s government.
After Russia had submitted sweeping security suggestions and sent thousands of troops to Ukraine, one month later, the United States responded in coordination with NATO Allies. It stated that it is ready for whatever might happen.
“It provides a serious diplomatic route forward should Russia decide it,” Blinken said to reporters about the US response. He assured them that details would not be disclosed.
Reiterating his offer of’reciprocal” measures to address mutual security concern, including a reduction in missiles in Europe and transparent disclosure on Western assistance to Ukraine military drills, he said.
He made it clear, however that America would not compromise on Russia’s demand that Ukraine be denied membership in NATO (the US-backed military alliance).
“From our point of view, I cannot be clearer – NATO’s doors are open, remain open and that is our commitment,” Blinken stated.
Satellite images reveal new units of Russian tanks parked near the Pogonovo training area, around 100 miles from the Ukraine border, as the world waits to find out how Putin will respond to letters dismissing his security demands
Russian tanks are seen parked near Pogonovo, around 100 miles from the Ukraine border, amid fears they are massing for an invasion if Putin’s security demands are not met
Russian artillery crews conduct live-fire drills at the Kuzminsky range in Rostov-on-Don, amid tensions with nearby Ukraine
Blinken (left), while keeping the contents of the letter secret, stated that it explicitly excludes the possibility that Ukraine could be banned from NATO membership. Sergei Lavrov (right), Russia’s foreign minister has indicated that his country would take’retaliatory steps’ to meet its demands.
An Russian T-72B Tank participates in combat drills at Rostov-on-Don. It is located around 70 miles from Ukraine’s border. The tank is also close to the areas where rebel groups fight the Ukrainian army.
Russian personnel carriers armoured are seen participating in training exercises at Rostov-on Don, near Ukraine
Russian soldiers carry an ammunition container through Rostov-on Don, south Russia during training exercises
Russian armoured and tank vehicles, as well as tanks from Russia take part in exercises close to Ukraine’s frontlines.
Dmitry Kozak, the Kremlin’s deputy chief-of-staff (left), and Alexey Meshkov, Russia’s Ambassador to France, give a press conference following talks in Paris last night over Ukraine. They said they had agreed to continue discussions
Russia has had a troubled history with Ukraine. This has led to an insurgency that killed over 13,000 Ukrainians since 2014.
Russia also seize Crimea in that same year after overthrowing a Kyiv government, which had been resisting European integration efforts.
The United States warned Russia of serious and rapid consequences in the event it invades. This includes possible sanctions against President Vladimir Putin. NATO also has 8,500 soldiers on alert.
NATO Secretary General Jens Steltenberg declared that, “While we work and hope for a solution that is good – de-escalation,” he added.
According to Ned Price, a State Department spokesperson, Blinken called Wang Yi on Wednesday to discuss the “global security risks and economic risk posed by additional Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
China’s foreign ministry stated that Wang informed Blinken Russia of its’reasonable security concern’ in a statement following the phone call.
Wendy Sherman, Blinken’s assistant, was the one who spoke out against Russia in a round of negotiations. She said that Putin appeared ready to invade, despite US warnings.
Sherman said that although he didn’t know whether the decision was made, he indicated to a forum that they had seen every sign that Sherman would use military force somewhere between now (in the middle) and February.
To try to ease tensions, top Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Paris for eight hours with French and German representatives.
Dmitry Kozak (the Kremlin deputy head of staff) said that the talks were not easy but that another round would be held in Berlin in two weeks.
France stated that after the Normandy Format negotiations, the envoys had committed to an insecure July 2020 ceasefire between pro-Moscow separatists and government forces in Ukraine’s eastern Ukraine.
Russian armored vehicles have been pictured in Belarus, amid concerns they might be used against Kiev. Military transports can also be seen in Smolensk (right).
After arriving in Russia from Russia, a Russian Sukhoi-34 fighter plane was seen landing on the Belarusian runway. This is amid concerns that Putin may be massing forces to attack Kiev.
Russian warships take part in live fire exercises in the Baltic Sea as part of a series of Russian naval drills in five oceans, which involves 140 vessels
A look from the deck of the Russian Navy battleship during artillery-fire drills in Baltic Sea, Thursday
“We will need to take a second pause.” Kozak stated that they hope to see results within two weeks.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s aide stressed that they were focused on resolving eastern Ukraine’s separatist conflict and not Russian invasion.
France and Germany joined the United States to warn Russia of an attack, but were less explicit about sanctions.
Germany’s coalition government is not clear on its intentions to cut the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, soon to be opened from Russia. This will allow gas to Europe’s biggest economy to bypass Ukraine.
Officials from Australia said that they were ready to send natural gas to Europe despite warnings about tensions between the West and Russia.
“We have not received a formal request but we indicate that we will support our friends,” Resources Minister Keith Pitt said to media in Sydney.
Joe Biden (US President) spoke to European leaders via videoconference Tuesday. Biden stated that any Russian military action on Ukraine would have “enormous consequences” and can even lead to a ‘change in the world.”
Dmitry Peskov the Kremlin’s spokesperson, though he did not deny its impact, cautioned that any attempt to penalize Putin would prove destructive.
America urged its citizens again to leave Ukraine. They warned that an invasion was possible.
The government of Ukraine, in an effort to avoid panic, tried to calm the situation and offer solutions.
Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister, stated to reporters that Russia posed “a threat” to Ukraine but that there were not enough troops available for an offensive.
Andriy Yermak (an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelesky) wrote in Twitter that the Paris meeting represented a strong signal of readiness for a peace settlement.