According to reports, the Biden administration may supply Javelin antitank missiles and Mi-17 Helicopters as well as military advisors to Ukraine.
This comes at a time when the U.S. has shared intelligence with European allies, suggesting the possibility that the buildup might be the initial step of a 3-pronged invasion.
Ukrainian officials worry that an attack might be coming as early as January, after Russia deployed more than 92,000 troops at the border.
According to CNN, U.S. officials urgently weigh a lethal package that might include mortars, anti-armor and air defense systems like stinger missiles.
The Javelin anti-tank missiles could prove essential to stopping Russian T-80 tanks that are among the armaments sent by Moscow to forward positions.
A second option is sending Russian-made Mi-17 aircraft to a destination that has not been designated for Afghanistan.
Others fear that the sending of military aid to Moscow could be seen as a provocation.
Below is an illustration of how Ukrainian intelligence prepares for an invasion. The attack would surpass the 2014 annexation.
Maxar Technologies released a satellite image on November 1st 2021 that shows large ground forces deployed near the Ukraine border.
Australian Army soldiers have heard that Javelin anti-tank weapons are being used. They could be effective against Russia’s T-80 tanks, which were near the Ukrainian border.
A massive Russian-Belarusian drill took place in September. It further increased the fears about an impending invasion.
Jen Psaki White House Press Secretary said Washington had been in touch with European counterparts about the buildup.
She stated that she was still concerned about Russian military actions and their harsh rhetoric towards Ukraine.
The U.S. and European allies shared maps showing how the Russian army could be able to build up, allowing Putin to launch an invasion.
According to Bloomberg, which cited people familiar with the conversations, the intelligence lays out a scenario for a three-pronged attack.
Troops would cross into Ukraine from Crimea, the Russian border and Belarus, with about 100 battalion tactical groups – up to 100,000 soldiers in all.
Two sources said half the tactical groups was already in position and that any invasion would be backed by air support.
This would surpass the 2014 annexation in Crimea.
Two sources claimed that Moscow had summoned tens to thousands of reservists for the largest mobilization in Soviet history. The reservists would have the responsibility of defending territory captured by the tactical battalions.
A plane takes off during the military drills by the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces (Zhytomyr Region), Ukraine, November 21st 2021
Drills in an unidentified location close to Russian-annexed Crimea show tanks of Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Moscow dismissed these reports as propaganda to hide Ukraine’s aggressive intentions.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, said that movements of Russian troops should not be a concern.
Instead, he reversed the roles and painted Ukraine the aggressor.
According to the Associated Press, he stated that the number of provocations has increased and they were conducted with the weapons NATO sent to Ukraine.
“We are concerned about it.”
However, U.S. officials claim they have a similar playbook.
“Our concern is Russia might make the serious mistake of trying to rehash its actions back in 2014. It amassed forces at the border and crossed into sovereign Ukrainian territory, claiming it was provoked,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated last week.
The defense ministry of Ukraine announced that it held an airborne force drill near the capital Kyiv.
Russia’s president Vladimir Putin denied any plans to invade Crimea. Kremlin officials claim that Ukraine is aggressor
Jen Psaki stated that he continues to be concerned about Russian military actions and its harsh rhetoric towards Ukraine. He called on Moscow to reduce tensions.
Ministry said that the drills were designed to simulate the landing of armoured personnel carrier and airborne troops for an attack against an enemy target. The ministry released video footage of the troops landing, with support from helicopters and aircraft.
Last week, drills were conducted by Ukrainian Marines close to the Russian-annexed Crimea.
Ukraine’s new defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, said during a trip to Washington last week that Putin was ‘playing chess’ with the West but it remained unclear what his intentions were.
Lloyd Austin, US Defense Secretary, stated Wednesday, “We don’t know exactly what Mr Putin’s up to,”
Meanwhile Democratic and Republican lawmakers have added amendments to the draft 2022 National Defense Authorization Act that would address Russia’s latest provocations
CNN saw a CNN-reported amendment that was proposed by Bob Menendez (Senate Foreign Relations Chairman), calling for new, substantial sanctions on top Kremlin officials, including Putin, in the event there is a Russian invasion of Ukraine.