In the face of new threats made by the Kremlin-backed Belarusian dictator “Kiev IS ours”, Ukraine called for NATO’s ‘deterrence plan’ to prevent a Russian invasion.
Vladimir Putin has sent some 94,000 troops to the Ukrainian border sparking fears of an assault that would far surpass the capture of Crimea in 2014.
Russia claims that Ukraine has sent half of its army (or 125,000 soldiers) to Donbass where it has been fighting Russian-backed separatists the past eighteen years.
Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba told counterparts at a NATO summit in Latvia he was ‘confident’ this could be prevented using a ‘three pronged approach’: communications with Moscow, threat of sanctions, and military backing for Kiev.
Today, fears grew as Putin’s ally Alexander Lukasenko said to a Russian propaganda outlet that he would do everything possible for Ukraine to be ours. It’s our Ukraine. The people living there are our people.
Putin claimed his troops are reacting to Russian military buildup at its border. Today, a Kremlin spokesperson stated that Ukraine sent half of their army (or 125,000) to that frontier.
NATO exercise in Adazi Lativa on Monday: Tank taking part
A Ukrainian solider sips a cup of coffee in his dugout on the frontline of the rebel-held territory of Donetsk on Sunday
Below is an illustration of how Ukrainian intelligence prepares for a violent and vicious invasion. The attack would be so massive that it could dwarf 2014’s annexation.
Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, demanded direct negotiations with Russia Wednesday to end the eight-year conflict with pro-Russian separatists living in Ukraine’s east.
Zelensky made the annual address to legislators, stating that “we must speak the truth about the fact that we cannot end the conflict without direct negotiations with Russia.”
To address the crisis, Antony Blinken, US diplomat chief will meet Sergei Lavrov at Stockholm’s Central Station on Thursday.
After meeting Kuleba, the foreign minister of Ukraine, the US Secretary of state will meet with Lavrov.
Three sides have seen Russian battalions deployed around Ukraine: Russia in the west, Russia in the east and the border of 700 miles it shares with Belarus.
Lukashenko made it clear that he would be willing to host Russian nuclear weapons within his territory. This is in close proximity to the three EU/NATO countries of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia.
He said this in an interview to Russian TV: “I won’t support the current nationalistic frenzy within Ukraine.”
I will make every effort to ensure Ukraine becomes ours.
“Ukraine is ours; the people there are ours.”
“This isn’t emotion, it’s my firm belief.
“Therefore, if Russia, God forbid,” is threatened by aggression from Ukraine, then we will maintain the strongest possible bond – economic, legal and political – with Russia.
Lukashenko’s economy and power are entirely dependent upon Putin. He has been accused by “weaponizing” migrants, sending his security forces to help the Iraqi Kurds to break through the EU border to Poland. This has been described as a hybrid war.
Lukashenko’s vow to give full military support to Putin came as Russia announced ‘large scale’ exercises involving ‘more than 10,000 troops’ in its Southern Military District, according to defence minister TV channel Zvezda.
In high tension, two warplanes from Russia were seen in joint patrol aboard Su-30SM multirole fighters at the border of Belarus and NATO.
According to the military press office, ‘About one third of all formations and military units in the district will begin winter training on the field.
The exercise would take place in Volgograd or Ingushetia and not near Ukraine.
Separately Russian TV and social media launched an attack on Liz Truss as UK foreign secretary, accusing her to be trying to copy former Tory prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher was in 1976 christened “Iron Lady” by Moscow.
Rossiya 1 mocks Truss’ tank ride in Estonia in advance of NATO summit in Latvian capital Riga.
According to the report, “For some reason the British foreign minister – who has also left the EU – decided that he would show up at the European Union’s easternmost frontier.”
Following their talks at Moscow’s Kremlin, Russia on September 9th, Vladimir Putin (Russian President) and Alexander Lukashenko (Belarusian counterpart) attend a news conference
Liz Truss meets British troops at a NATO exercise held in Estonia
British soldiers deployed in Estonia by the British Foreign Office were visited Monday by Liz Truss (Foreign Secretary).
Liz Truss, British trooper in Estonia, visited Liz Truss ahead of the summit.
“There, the minister rode in a tank.”
The media then “rushed to compare Liz Truss and Margaret Thatcher” and again discussed the possibility of Boris Johnson becoming Conservative leader, losing his popularity.
Olga Skabeeva, another TV host – also known as the “Iron Doll” of Putin TV – stated that Truss was warning Russia not to be aggressive toward Ukraine.
“Yet” herself rides a tank near the Russia border in Estonia.
“Some sort of freak show.”
Vladimir Solovyov, TV host, said: “Imagine that Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, would take a tank in Belarus, near the Polish border, to say.”
“What reaction would the whole world have?”
The ‘British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was on the contrary, and rode in Estonia a tank while she visited the Baltics.
What does that mean? Does this refer to the Foreign Office?
“Is it adequate?”
The Moscow foreign ministry had earlier reacted to Truss’ warning that Russia’s actions would ‘undermine the freedoms and democracy enjoyed by our partners’.
Maria Zakharova, Spokeswoman for the organization said that they do not interfere with strategic errors – it is Britain’s historical prerogative.
NATO’s annual Winter Shield military exercise took place in Adazi Lativa, Spain on Monday.
On Monday, an armoured track vehicle participated in NATO’s annual military exercise, “Winter Shield”, in Adazi.
At the NATO annual military exercise, a soldier from Latvia leaps off of a military vehicle
Putin sent a direct warning to West on Tuesday.
He was concerned that NATO might use Ukraine’s territory to launch missiles capable reaching Russia’s command centers in a matter of seconds.
He stated that the emergence of these threats is a red line for him.
“I believe that people will prevail over their selfishness and take responsibility for the well-being of others and for the greater good of all humanity.
Dmitry Polyansky, a Russian UN representative, warned that Russia is angry about the West’s stance on pro-Putin rebels held Donetsk (and Luhansk) in eastern Ukraine.
According to him, “this dangerous path” can lead to “some very serious developments.”