NATO warned Moscow that it would pay a “high price” if it used force against Ukraine during the most recent exchange of barbs. This was after Russia claimed the NATO had sent a significant amount of military hardware to Ukraine’s borders.
Vladimir Putin has sent some 94,000 troops to the Ukrainian frontier and the White House has warned Europe to brace for an invasion that would dwarf the 2014 annexation of the Crimea.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated Tuesday that Russia would have to pay a steep price for using force against Ukraine’s independence. He was arriving in Riga (Lettonia) for the meeting of foreign ministers.
He said that Moscow could withstand economic and financial sanctions and added, “We have increased our presence in this region both in the Black Sea and also the Baltic regions.”
Vladimir Putin pledged to defend Russia’s “red lines”, but dismissed any threat of invasion, saying similar allegations were made earlier in the year.
Vladimir Putin (pictured at Sochi last Week) advised the West and Ukraine not to cross the Kremlin’s “red lines”, but downplayed any threat of invasion, saying that similar claims were made earlier this Year.
“We’re very worried about what we have seen at the border of Ukraine. Russia is known to combine those efforts with their internal attempts to destabilize countries. This is part of the game plan, and that’s why we are closely studying it,” U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken said (pictured in Pittsburgh in September).
An earlier map that Military Times shared and is reproduced below shows how Ukrainian intelligence prepares for a violent and vicious invasion. The attack would surpass the annexation in 2014 of Crimea.
“Look, they mentioned a Russian military intervention in Ukraine during the start of the year. Putin stated this at an investor conference Tuesday.
It isn’t about fighting, not fighting, intervening or not. Putin stated that it’s all about strengthening ties and taking into consideration the security interests of all sides.
“If we truly strive to do this, then nobody will be afraid.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, stated last week that Russia’s intelligence services had discovered plans to support a coup d’etat. Russia has denied this allegation, and rejected claims that it intends to invade Ukraine.
“We’re very worried about what we have seen at the border of Ukraine. Russia is known to combine these efforts with their internal attempts to destabilize countries. This is part of Russia’s playbook and we are looking into it closely,” U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken stated.
Blinken, ahead of the talks in Riga (Lettonia) with counterparts from the 30-country military organization, warned that a renewed aggression could have serious consequences.
Following a similar buildup in spring when Russia had around 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders, but then announced a drawdown.
Putin stated that Moscow is concerned about Western plans to conduct massive, previously unannounced drills close to Russia’s borders. He specifically mentioned US exercises in the Black Sea.
Last Friday, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president held an intense press conference in Kiev. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that there are many challenges facing Ukraine, not just from Russia but also possible escalation. He added: “We have major internal problems. According to my information, a coup-d’etat is planned for our country in December 1-2.
Separately, Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, made a number of accusations against Kiev. He also stated that Russia reserves the right to take action if it is threatened with security.
We simply cannot exclude the possibility that the Kiev regime could embark on an military adventure. All of this creates an immediate threat to Russia’s security,” Lavrov said, in a joint statement with his Brazilian counterpart Carlos Franca.
“If the West can’t contain Ukraine and instead incites it to do so, then, of course, all steps will be taken to secure our trusted security.”
Lavrov claimed that Ukrainian military operations and drone use in Ukraine’s east were a serious threat to Russia. Russia was also ready to respond to any such threats.
He stated that ‘we simply cannot exclude the possibility of Kyiv setting out on a militaristic adventure’ at a Moscow news conference.
A plane takes off during the military drills by the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces (Zhytomyr Region), Ukraine, November 21st 2021
A Russian-backed separatist holds a machine gun inside a trench along the frontline outside the rebel-held city of Donetsk, Ukraine
A Ukrainian soldier along with a tank taking part in drills in Kherson region, Ukraine, November 17, 2021
“President Putin said that while we don’t need war, the West should not be able to hold Ukraine back. On the contrary, it encourages them. We will however take all necessary measures to secure our safety.
Volodymyr Zelensky (Ukranian President) stated last week Russia sending “very dangerous” signals to the border with troop movements, warning his army that he was prepared to resist any offensive.
Moscow, which took Crimea in Ukraine from Ukraine 2014, and supports separatists fighting Kiev has strongly denied that it was plotting an attack. NATO is blamed for fuelling tensions.
More than 13,000 have died in conflicts between the east and west since 2014.