One of the legislators currently in Kyiv said that a small group of House Democrats has arrived in Kiev to evaluate Russia’s military buildup at the country’s eastern borders.
On CNN, Ruben Gallego from Arizona stated that while it is possible for this to happen, “This may be one of the most significant land invasions in Europe since World War II”, according to CNN.
Russia is gaining attention around the globe by rapidly building troops and militaries at its borders with Ukraine. Kyiv officials are asking for Western help, as they claim an imminent attack is on the horizon.
According to Ukrainian officials, there may be as many as 125,000 Russian troops at the Donbas border.
Gallego, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee as chair of the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, revealed today that he hatched a plan to lead a group of his colleagues to Kyiv to assess the situation firsthand.
‘I had planned this about a couple of weeks ago recognizing there was this kind of buildup happening, so we can get in depth understanding of what’s happening in Ukraine both from the United States side but also from the Ukrainian government side,’ the progressive Democrat said.
While he admitted that it was difficult to predict the next actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said that there was one certainty: international solidarity.
‘Russians don’t understand weakness. Gallego explained that they only know real political power moves, so it is important to ensure we are strong against them along with our allies as well as with the peoples of Ukraine. Russia is open to any compromise, and it will be invited into Ukraine.
For Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the US along with its allies has promised to impose severe economic penalties.
Pavlo and Mykhailo, Ukrainian soldiers built a bunker at the frontline on 12/12/2021 in Zolote (Ukraine). Russia’s increase in troops near the Ukraine border has raised concerns that Russia might invade the Donbas. The majority of Donbas are held by separatists, following seven years of war with the Ukrainian government.
An Ukrainian soldier, Chorny, is seen in a trench at the front-line on 12/12/2021
A Ukrainian soldier marches along the trench of Russia-backed separatists on the frontline, near Avdiivka in Donetsk on December 10.
Gallego called on Putin and his cronies not to have access to the US dollar in order to hinder trade.
The representative also called upon the Pentagon to ensure that Ukraine had all the necessary weapons and was ready to kill Russians if required, a stark departure from Biden’s resolution-focused approach.
‘We have to make sure that we’re willing to back Ukraine in any possible way, especially when hit comes to resistance,’ he said.
‘We have to give them the capability for them to resist Russian invasion, both prior to invasion and even post-invasion, make sure that we’re bringing in weaponry that will actually put a toll on the Russian troop movements, and unfortunately that means we have to kill some Russians.’
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday reiterated a warning from the United States and its allies that Russia could face ‘massive consequences’ if it continued its ‘reckless and aggressive’ actions against Ukraine.
This weekend, the country’s highest diplomat visited the United Kingdom to meet with counterparts from the Group of Seven economies. The discussions were dominated by Russia’s action in Ukraine.
Antony Blinken was in Liverpool to speak with Meet The Press about the G7 summit for foreign ministers.
Chuck Todd, Meet the Press host said that Blinken stated that they are considering and are ready to make the same steps as in the past. This would have huge consequences for Russia.
He stated that it was unlikely for Presidents Joe Biden or Vladimir Putin to meet in person, as Russia’s current worrying trajectory continues.
Blinken stated, “I found all our allies very strong in their resolve, both in the deep concern they have about Russia and their determination for coordinated, strong steps to address any aggression from Russia.”
Biden stated that Russia cannot be confronted unilaterally with military force, but severe economic sanctions and the closing of a gas pipeline were all discussed.
Both Kyiv and its officials are worried about the buildup, but Moscow denies any intention to invade the ex-Soviet satellite.
Today, the G7 made an official warning to Russia about the severe consequences of failing to de-escalate tensions at Ukraine’s eastern border.
The G7 foreign ministers said that they called on Russia to “de-escalate”, pursue diplomatic channels and adhere to its international commitments regarding transparency of military operations, as President Biden stated in his conversation with President Putin on December 7.
International law prohibits the use of force for changing borders. Russia ought to be clear that further aggression against Ukraine will have severe consequences.
They also noted Ukraine’s “posture to restraint,” which is a clear dismissal by Russian officials who claim that NATO and Ukraine have made false accusations in an effort to conceal their aggression.
US officials and allies have offered a range of severe economic sanctions to exceed the Russian illegal annexation in 2014 of Crimea from Ukraine.
Moscow was alarmed in 2014 when Ukrainians successfully ousted Putin-backed President Viktor Yanukovych in favor of a democratically-elected government. Russian officials also warn that Ukraine’s attempts to join Western NATO or European Union alliances would make them hostile.
The summit’s main topic was Ukraine’s sovereignty and Russian aggression.
Biden isn’t planning to send troops into the territory, but his administration promised that the US would provide all the assistance NATO Allies would require.
Some of the options are to block Russia’s SWIFT bank system and make them unable convert rubles to dollars. There is also an attempt to persuade Germany to close the Nord Stream 2 natural-gas pipeline.
For years, US officials worried that the new pipeline would strengthen Russia’s hold on Europe, providing direct gas to Germany, bypassing Ukraine, and thus making the small country more diplomatically and economically vulnerable.
Blinken, however, reiterated Sunday that Biden’s main goal was still to have a “more stable, predictable relationship” with Russia.
“But, if Russia continues taking reckless and aggressive acts, we will respond,” he said. Not only for us, but also our partners and allies throughout the globe.
The handout satellite photo released by Maxar Technologies on November 1, 2021, shows an image of support equipment and armored units amid large-scale ground forces deployed at the northern border of Yelnya in Smolensk Oblast. Russia
Blinken said that Russia’s global order was in danger and that it was crucial to take on Russia now.
“There’s something more at stake, and that’s the fundamental rules of international order, which say one country cannot change another’s borders by force. One country also can’t dictate what choices it makes, how it chooses to spend its money, or with whom it will be allied.
“One country cannot exert any influence on another.” This is what Russia claims to be asserting. This is what Russia wants to assert.
Blinken met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit in Stockholm, Sweden last week.
Before engaging in an hour-long meeting, Lavrov and Blinken spoke with reporters
The US chief diplomat had warned Lavrov just before the camera that there would be serious consequences if Russia invades Ukraine. However, he maintained that diplomacy was the best option to prevent an international crisis.
Lavrov appeared to be in agreement, saying to the media that he believes the best way to get out of the current crisis which has been described as tense is to find the balance of the interests.
Russia had declared that there were still high chances of another conflict with Ukraine, despite the Kremlin’s concerns about the ex-Soviet state’s aggressive rhetoric.
Lavrov claimed that Russia is interested in taking measures to control and resolve the Ukrainian crisis.
When addressing the OSCE summit, his tone was more grave. He reiterated that Moscow would not accept NATO membership of Ukraine and the deployment of NATO missiles that might threaten it.
“The military infrastructure of the alliance is getting closer to Russia’s borders,” Lavrov warned. Lavrov stated that the worst scenario for military confrontation was returning.
Biden and Putin spoke roughly for two hours last Thursday. The American president informed his Russian counterpart about the consequences of Russia not de-escalating tensions towards Ukraine.