Russian Troops Massed at Ukraine Border Concern U.S. Officials
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/...n-us-officials
Russia has said they wish to unite all Russian speakers- does that mean they intend to "annex" the Russian speaking portions of the Ukraine as they did Crimea? Another theory is that they want to establish a "land bridge" they control between Russia and Crimea (currently all supplies to Crimea including energy and food must come though Ukraine or by sea- Russia wants to build a bridge from Russia to Crimea to bypass Ukraine but that will take a few years to build). Troops near the border are reported to number at least 40,000.
Quote:
The Russian government claims the thousands of troops massing on the border of Ukraine are merely conducting exercises, but U.S. officials have yet to see any evidence of that. U.S. military leaders instead worry the growing troop presence could lead to more problems in a region already stricken by precarious security.
“We’ve seen no specific indication that exercises are taking place,” said Pentagon spokesman Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby on Thursday. He declined to comment on any specific estimates of Russian troops along the border, but said the number is in the thousands.
The Russian force there is “a composition that provides a lot of capability,” indicating that it could conduct a comprehensive assault on Ukraine.
“The way it was explained is these are springtime exercises,” he said, adding the Russian government has offered its assurances it will not cross the border into Ukraine.
Kirby said the Pentagon expects the Russians will keep their word.
“Just because we haven’t seen any indication of exercises now doesn’t mean that one won’t occur,” he said. “Even if this is exercises, it’s doing nothing to help de-escalate the tension in Ukraine. It’s doing nothing to assist in the stability in that part of Europe.”
President Barack Obama has all but ruled out any military options in response to the Russian annexation of the Crimean peninsula. The U.S. deployed 12 F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to Poland in early March, along with support forces, and has conducted preplanned NATO exercises.
“Today, NATO planes patrol the skies over the Baltics, and we’ve reinforced our presence in Poland. And we’re prepared to do more,” Obama said Wednesday at the Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels. He called on NATO member states – many of which now are former Soviet countries – to “step up and carry its share of the burden.”
President Barack Obama speaks during a joint news conference with EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy and EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso at the EU-U.S. summit meeting on Wednesday, March 26, 2014, in Brussels.
President Barack Obama speaks to the media at the EU-U.S. summit meeting Wednesday.
“Ukraine is not a member of NATO – in part because of its close and complex history with Russia. Nor will Russia be dislodged from Crimea or deterred from further escalation by military force. But with time, so long as we remain united, the Russian people will recognize that they cannot achieve security, prosperity and the status that they seek through brute force,” he said.
Russian troops and local loyalist militias completed this week seizing all navy bases on the strategic peninsula of Crimea, home to the Russian Black Sea fleet. The Russian government previously leased a navy base at Sevastopol from the Ukrainian government, which came into question after populist protests forced pro-Russian President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych from office.
More at link.
