Russia continues to amass new troops near Ukraine’s border despite Biden urging Putin to de-escalate tensions
Russia continues to amass new troops near Ukraine’s border despite Biden urging Putin to de-escalate tensions
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More Russian military units have been sent to the border area in recent days, sources familiar with the intelligence tell CNN. US and Ukrainian officials have also seen evidence that Russia has begun diverting commercial air and rail systems to support the military effort, though similar air and rail activity was visible in the spring during Russia’s last military buildup that was ultimately pulled back.
But despite an offer to facilitate a meeting with Russia and NATO to discuss Moscow’s concerns, Biden has signaled that the US will not make any concessions on either NATO or Ukraine’s future.
“One nation can’t force another nation to change its border; one nation cannot tell another to change its politics; and nations can’t tell others who they can work with,” Biden told Putin during their meeting, according to a senior White House official.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg echoed that sentiment in a press conference on Thursday. “We believe that dialogue is important especially when times are difficult as they are now,” he said. “And our invitation to Moscow to meet in the NATO-Russia Council stands, and we are ready to sit down. But we will never compromise on the right of every sovereign nation, as Ukraine, to choose his own path and of the principle that it is for Ukraine and the 30 Allies to decide when Ukraine is ready to join the Alliance.”
Recent satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies and provided to CNN show that Russia has massed troops and equipment as close as 30 miles away from Ukraine’s border. The images show an increase between September 7 and December 5 in the number of Russian military vehicles in the southwestern Russian city of Soloti. Russia appeared to be setting up a new regiment within its 3rd Motor Rifle Division, an infantry division of Russia’s ground forces, according to Michael Kofman, the research program director in the Russia Studies Program at CNA.
“The 3rd division is still being set up, as is the 144th,” Kofman said. But he noted that the main source of Russia’s buildup can be seen more in the movements by Russia’s 6th army, the 1st in Voronezh, the 41st in Yelnya, and the 58th and 49th armies in Crimea.
Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, who just returned from Ukraine, told reporters earlier this week that the next step to watch in the evolution of the Russian presence near the Ukrainian border is if they call up reserve forces.
Russia continues to deny that it is putting the pieces in place for an invasion. But Putin has said that Russia has the right to “defend its security” in the face of a potential eastward push by NATO.
The Biden administration is still weighing whether to send more weapons and equipment to Ukrainians, following shipments in the last two months of Javelin anti-tank missiles and Command Launch Units, Island Class Patrol Boats, first aid kits, secure radios, electronics, medical equipment, engines, generators, spare parts, as well as small arms and ammunition.
Ukrainian officials have also been pushing for air defense systems, like Patriot surface-to-air missiles, from the US, according to people familiar with their requests.
But National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has conveyed the US’ concerns that such shipments might be viewed by Russia as highly provocative, at a moment when the US, Europe and NATO are trying to get Moscow to de-escalate. Still, the White House has not ruled anything out completely, apart from putting US troops on the ground in Ukraine.
“As we pursue diplomatic channels, we will also prepare for all contingencies,” Sullivan told reporters earlier this month. “Just as we have been doing for weeks now, including through the preparation of specific responses to Russian escalation should they be required — specific, robust, clear responses should they be required.”
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Source :CNN