Vladimir Putin stated that the fighting between Ukrainian separatists along the border with Russia ‘looks just like genocide,’ escalating tensions in fear of an invasion.
Putin responded to a question on discrimination against foreign Russians and called it ‘Russophobia.’ He said that this is the ‘first step toward genocide.
He pointed out the conflict in Ukraine’s Donbass at Russia’s borders, and said, “You know what is going on… This certainly seems like genocide.
Although Putin may have used similar phrases before, this will be a new alarm in the face of a massive Russian troop buildup at Ukraine’s borders.
In the past, Russian propaganda used “threats” to Russians abroad as pretexts for invading – even during the 2014 annexation.
Vladimir Putin said that the conflict in Ukraine is ‘like genocide’ and has raised fears of an invasion.
The Ukrainian government has waged a long-running war on Russian separatists living in Donbass. They are supported and armed by Moscow. (pictured: Ukrainian troops in this region).
Washington warns for weeks about Russia’s plans to invade Ukraine, threatening to send up to 175,000 soldiers.
Despite Ukraine’s Donbass being majority Ukrainian, there are significant Russian minority residents. Russian is the predominant language in most of its southern and eastern regions.
Donetsk is 38% and Luhansk 39 percent respectively, which are the regions that collectively form the Donbass.
Many people fear Putin might invade Ukraine. He has been putting up 94,000 soldiers, tanks, and artillery pieces at Ukraine’s borders in the last week.
Since weeks the United States has accused Russia, along with its allies, of invading Ukraine. The US and its allies are currently massing troops near Kiev’s borders and declaring that they will march against Ukraine within weeks.
Biden talked to Putin earlier this week via video link. He warned Russia that he would cripple sanctions and put US boots on the ground in case he decided to take military action against Ukraine.
After that, the US president called Volodymyr Zelensky from Ukraine to offer his support and gave him’strong’ support.
Zelensky sent a late Thursday statement thanking Biden, expressing gratitude for the support he provided after an hour-and-a-half phone conversation.
According to the White House, Biden had’reaffirmed America’s unwavering commitment towards Ukraine’s sovereignty & territorial integrity’
Putin had made similar statements in the past. But they will sound alarm bells due to the Russian troop buildup amid fears that he could use this ‘threat’ as an excuse for invading.
Putin’s comment was made as Biden (left), a telephone call with Zelensky (right), shared by Putin, as they assured each other of the strong support of the United States in the case of a Russian invasion
Biden called separately the NATO leaders in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary and Latvia as well as the Lithuanian, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania – Eastern European countries that fear the consequences of an attack by Russia.
The White House stated that they had ‘discussed Russia’s military buildup at Ukraine’s borders and the necessity for a strong, united and ready NATO stance to collectively defend allies’.
Biden spoke to Putin for two hours on Tuesday. Biden warned Putin that Russian troops would launch major attacks on Ukraine, and warned the US of economic sanctions.
However, the White House stated that Biden also wanted to reenergize diplomacy and the recently stalled talks between Russia & Ukraine.
“Within the next few days, we’re clearly going to continue speaking with our European partners. We’re also going to continue discussing with our Russian partners. Finding a way forward,” a top administration official stated to reporters.
Officials from Ukraine and the West fear Russia, which has already taken Ukraine’s Crimea Region in 2014. It also supported a rebel rebellion in Ukraine.
Russia claims it deployed about 100,000 troops on its border to protect the NATO alliance from the fear of becoming an outpost in the ex-Soviet republic.
While Ukraine isn’t even close to joining NATO yet, Washington maintains that Russia shouldn’t have any veto over Kiev’s ambitions.
Zelensky is seen on the frontlines pushing for Ukraine’s accession to NATO. Putin considers this a Russian red line’.
The camp, which contains five Russian battalions, was photographed near Yelna.
Another view from the Russian military base near Yelna. US intelligence states that Putin may be in position to invade Ukraine with a force of 175,000 men.
Russian tanks, artillery pieces and support vehicles are seen at a newly-built camp at Novoozerne, in Crimea, which is located around 80 miles from the Ukrainian border
However, beyond the conflict in Ukraine’s battlefields, it has become a wider struggle for the future of Eastern Europe. There, for many decades, the Soviet Union held absolute dominance, while most of the countries today are members of Western institutions.
However, the United States and European power do not want to openly war against Russia in Ukraine. Biden seems to desire a return of negotiations.
Zelensky claimed that Biden had discussed possible solutions to the conflict in Ukraine. In eastern Ukraine the Russian-backed separatists are self-declared states.
A senior US official stated that the US was ready to discuss this issue with Russia.
The official was not happy about media reports that Biden pressured Zelensky to accept concessions from Russia.
The official stated that there were no concessions discussed. He also said that Biden “respects our principles.”
Biden coordinates closely with the major European powers and reaches out to leaders from Britain, France and Germany before and after Tuesday’s meeting with Putin.
There are few options available to the United States for Ukraine assistance, because Ukraine is not a NATO member and direct intervention would lead almost certain clashes between Russia and Ukraine.
The United States still supports Ukrainian troops and has contributed more than $2.5 Billion to support a military which was unable to resist the Russian attack in 2014.
Biden stated that if conflict escalates, this kind of “defensive capability” would be increased.
According to the US President, the idea of American troops entering Ukraine is not on the table. Biden, however, is promising the contrary when it concerns the NATO nine Eastern flank countries.
He said that it would be necessary to increase our presence among NATO countries in order to assure, especially, those at the Eastern Front.
Biden, as well as European leaders, are expressing their readiness to impose tough economic penalties against Moscow in response to any Russian aggression.
Olaf Scholz (the new German chancellor) warned about the ‘consequences” of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. This controversial Russian project aims to transport natural gas from Russia to Germany.