Moscow has been warned by Washington and its allies about the grave consequences of allowing any of the many thousands of military personnel residing at the border with Ukraine to be allowed into the country.
After talks with Britain, France, and Germany in Berlin, US Secretary Antony Blinken insists that Russia cannot match the resoluteness of Western powers.
He said that Russia could invade Ukraine and “drag us back to a more dangerous time and instabile time when this continent and this city were split in half…with the threat of war all over our heads,” he added.
Annalena Baerbock, German Foreign Minister, stated that in a sign of unity which has not been seen lately, the West will not hesitate to take action even though it could have economic consequences.
After gaining support from his allies today, Blinken will travel to Berlin and Geneva for talks with Sergei Lavrov.
A battlegroup is seen at Voronezh, 200 miles away from Ukraine’s border. This satellite image was taken on January 19, and shows Moscow’s military buildup along this frontier to prepare for the upcoming ‘nine month war.
This region is on a knife edge since last year’s end when Moscow sent 100,000 troops and also tanks and missiles close to the border.
After meeting NATO allies at Berlin, Antony Blinken advised Russia to not attack Ukraine. He then flew to Geneva (pictured), to meet Sergei Lavrov.
The threat of a major European conflict is growing. Boris Johnson the British Prime Minister cautioned Russia would march on Ukraine, causing repercussions across Europe. He said, “It would have a disastrous effect on the world.”
Today, Liz Truss (foreign secretary), spoke in Australia during talks about the AUKUS submarine agreement. She warned Putin today to “desist and take back” from Ukraine.
According to her, “Invasion is only going to lead us into a horrible quagmire with loss of lives, as we have seen from both the Soviet Afghanistan war and the conflict in Chechnya,” she stated.
We need all to get involved. We will stand by Russia and encourage it to engage in constructive discussions. This is what we are doing together with allies. It is important that the world sees what’s happening in eastern Europe.
Moscow maintains that it doesn’t intend to invade, but has also made several demands for the de-escalation of tensions.
Washington rejected Moscow’s requests as non-starters. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg reiterated this week that NATO ‘will never compromise core principles like the freedom of each country to choose their own course’.
Russia has announced that it will be deploying to the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic with new naval drills. It plans to deploy’more than 140 warships, support vessels and aircrafts, over 60 aircrafts, 1000 pieces of military equipment and approximately 10,000 personnel’.
After the Kremlin’s angry condemnation of the ‘destabilizing’ comments made by US President Joe Biden after the American leader promised a severe response to any invading of Ukraine, the Kremlin announced the same.
Already Wednesday, Russia held military exercises with ex-Soviet Republic Belarus forces. This country also borders Ukraine.
An American official stated that the exercise could signal a Russian permanent military presence, with both conventional and nuclear forces operating in Belarus.
Soldiers from the Russian Army 1st Guards Engineer Brigade, as well as units for recovery and salvaging are seen at tactical and special trainings in Murom (about 260km east of Moscow).
Pictured: Three soldiers participate in Russian military drills Tuesday at Murom
During special and tactical training, soldiers of the Russian Army 1st Guards Engineer Brigade and assault-engineer units are seen in Murom.
Moscow has been building up a force of defense forces along its eastern flank since weeks.
Russia was repeatedly warned by Russia that the West would impose economic and other sanctions on it if it attempted to invade Ukraine.
Biden caused controversy hours before Blinken reached Berlin to coordinate any response to Russia. He appeared to suggest that an ‘incident minor’ could prompt a less aggressive reaction by NATO allies.
It’s okay if there’s only a small incursion. Then we have to fight about how and what to do.
Blinken from Berlin clarified his comments and said that any Russian military forces that move over the Ukrainian border will commit new aggression against Ukraine. The United States, our allies and partner countries would respond quickly and severely to such an act.
On Thursday, Blinken said that Russian soldiers could cross the Ukraine border without permission. This was regardless of whether the soldier crossing it was one or a thousand.
Biden tried to soothe frazzled nerves by stating that the West will treat any Russian troop entry into Ukraine as an invasion.
From Biden’s Tuesday remark on Wednesday, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zilensky responded that there were no’minor incursions.
This photo, which was distributed Tuesday by the Belarus Ministry of Defense shows Russian military vehicles arriving at Belarus in preparation for joint exercises
Russian soldiers prepare to load their military vehicles for the Belarus-Russia joint military drill on 18 January
“We wish to remind all the major powers that we don’t allow small nations or minor invasions.” Zelensky posted the following tweet: “Just as there aren’t minor casualties, and little grief at the loss of loved one,”
The West’s diplomatic machinery has worked tirelessly over the past weeks in order to diffuse tensions. However, with both sides holding strong positions, talks between Western officials and Russian officials at Geneva, Brussels, and Vienna have failed to produce any progress.
NATO allies indicated their willingness for continued talks, however Moscow requested a written response to its proposal for security guarantees.
The Russians want to limit military activity in former Warsaw Pact nations and ex-Soviet members of NATO that joined after the Cold War.
On Wednesday in Kyiv, Blinken stated that he wouldn’t present such a formal reply at Friday’s Geneva talks with Lavrov. It was Russia that dispelled fears about expansionist intentions.
Since 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, the Ukrainian army has been fighting Moscow-backed troops in two eastern regions.
Over 13,000 have died, with the most recent Russian troop buildup also causing great concern for neighbours in Baltics.
Washington confirmed Thursday that it had approved the requests of the Baltic countries to send weapons made in America to Ukraine.
Britain also stated it was sending defensive weapons to Ukraine to assist with its security.
Prepared remarks indicate that Liz Truss from Britain will make a speech Friday in Sydney warning Vladimir Putin to avoid making strategic mistakes and getting caught in a terrible mess’ if Russia invades Ukraine.