The world is on the brink of another war. At the moment there is a fear that Russia will invade Ukraine and this fear affects not only Ukraine but also the western countries.
The build-up of Russian troops and military equipment near the border with Ukraine is leading to growing fears that Moscow is preparing for an invasion. The United States has expressed concerns about the possibility to allies and partners in Europe.
Washington also has intelligence that would indicate that Russia is positioning its military for a possible invasion from different directions. Tensions are rising on Ukraine's eastern border with Russia and fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine are being raised. Russia has sent thousands of troops to the border, but insists it has no plans to invade Ukraine.
Russia does not want Ukraine to join NATO, but Western powers say Ukraine's sovereignty must be respected.
US President Joe Biden reaffirmed his country's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and for the settlement of the armed conflict in the Donetsk Basin in accordance with the Minsk and Normandy agreements.
On December 30, Biden also spoke to Putin on the phone. He warned that the United States could impose further sanctions on Russia if it takes further military action against Ukraine. According to Putin, however, such a US measure could completely disrupt relations between the two countries.
Recently, relations between the West and Russia have become quite tense. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded legally secured guarantees that preclude further expansion of NATO to the east and the deployment of weapons in Ukraine, all of which he says threaten Russia's security.
When the pro-Russian president was defeated in Ukraine in 2014, Russia annexed the southern Crimean peninsula. In addition, Russian-backed rebels have seized control of parts of eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine shares borders with Russia and the European Union, but as a former Soviet state, it has strong social and cultural ties with Russia, and Russian is the only language spoken here. Russia has long opposed Ukraine's proximity to European institutions.
Ukraine is located in Eastern Europe, to the west of Russia. Russia has been facing aggression for the last five hundred years from the western part of Europe which is the territory of Europe.
They were invaded by the Poles in 1605, by Sweden in 1708, by the French under Napoleon in 1812, and by Germany in both world wars. The Russians have been fighting on their western borders once in an average of 33 years in the last 500 years.
Russia, like all major powers, is thinking about the next 100 years and understands that anything can happen with the changing times.
A century ago, who would have thought that the US Armed Forces would be based in Poland and the Baltic states, 100 miles from Moscow? But today it has happened. Learning from history, Russia's fears are still growing
Russia wants assurances that Ukraine will not seek to retake territories seized by pro-Russian separatists in 2014. It has also warned the West not to try to cross the "red line" by joining Ukraine's NATO alliance.
In the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States and Europe have two options, either dialogue and a political solution to the crisis or a military attack on Russia. The latter would be a sign of insanity and the United States and Europe will never tolerate its consequences.
Putin has signed off on some commentary that asserts meandering claims to Russians and Ukrainians being one people, and having one country. That is false. However, it might play well in domestic Russian politics, which is reason enough for many politicians to peddle this narrative. Internationally, Putin has not said that. He has not made any claims to Ukraine, nor to most of its people. He claims only to protect the rights of ethnic minority Russians, which is a 'reason' for meddling that is hold and much too used by many nations. Putin has also not asserted internationally any fears of Ukraine as itself a threat to Russia. What he asserts is that the US moving into Ukraine, NATO moving in, would be a threat from them. It is the old point of NATO closing in on the Russian borders.
His demand in turn is not to take Ukraine. His demand is that it be neutralised. That NATO commit not to go there. Can Ukraine live with that? It might be able to do so, if it has a few other agreements, like continued gas transit income and withdrawal from its eastern regions in return for some protection to ethnic Russians there. NATO should be able to live with that. We often enough say that we are not really closing in on Russia. So don't.
Ukraine doesn't have the means to defend itself against Russia. The US may not intervene, but NATO may. There are many countries in Eastern Europe that are in NATO, and they will probably not appreciate Russia annexing Ukraine. Putin is unfazed by Biden's threats, and only significant military presence will deter Russia. I do not think it will be that easy, but at the least Russia will notice it and take note of it. Putin is a shrewd politician and knows that there will be Western uproar if he invades.
The build-up of Russian troops and military equipment near the border with Ukraine is leading to growing fears that Moscow is preparing for an invasion. The United States has expressed concerns about the possibility to allies and partners in Europe.
Washington also has intelligence that would indicate that Russia is positioning its military for a possible invasion from different directions. Tensions are rising on Ukraine's eastern border with Russia and fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine are being raised. Russia has sent thousands of troops to the border, but insists it has no plans to invade Ukraine.
Russia does not want Ukraine to join NATO, but Western powers say Ukraine's sovereignty must be respected.
US President Joe Biden reaffirmed his country's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and for the settlement of the armed conflict in the Donetsk Basin in accordance with the Minsk and Normandy agreements.
On December 30, Biden also spoke to Putin on the phone. He warned that the United States could impose further sanctions on Russia if it takes further military action against Ukraine. According to Putin, however, such a US measure could completely disrupt relations between the two countries.
Recently, relations between the West and Russia have become quite tense. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded legally secured guarantees that preclude further expansion of NATO to the east and the deployment of weapons in Ukraine, all of which he says threaten Russia's security.
When the pro-Russian president was defeated in Ukraine in 2014, Russia annexed the southern Crimean peninsula. In addition, Russian-backed rebels have seized control of parts of eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine shares borders with Russia and the European Union, but as a former Soviet state, it has strong social and cultural ties with Russia, and Russian is the only language spoken here. Russia has long opposed Ukraine's proximity to European institutions.
Ukraine is located in Eastern Europe, to the west of Russia. Russia has been facing aggression for the last five hundred years from the western part of Europe which is the territory of Europe.
They were invaded by the Poles in 1605, by Sweden in 1708, by the French under Napoleon in 1812, and by Germany in both world wars. The Russians have been fighting on their western borders once in an average of 33 years in the last 500 years.
Russia, like all major powers, is thinking about the next 100 years and understands that anything can happen with the changing times.
A century ago, who would have thought that the US Armed Forces would be based in Poland and the Baltic states, 100 miles from Moscow? But today it has happened. Learning from history, Russia's fears are still growing
Russia wants assurances that Ukraine will not seek to retake territories seized by pro-Russian separatists in 2014. It has also warned the West not to try to cross the "red line" by joining Ukraine's NATO alliance.
In the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States and Europe have two options, either dialogue and a political solution to the crisis or a military attack on Russia. The latter would be a sign of insanity and the United States and Europe will never tolerate its consequences.
Putin has signed off on some commentary that asserts meandering claims to Russians and Ukrainians being one people, and having one country. That is false. However, it might play well in domestic Russian politics, which is reason enough for many politicians to peddle this narrative. Internationally, Putin has not said that. He has not made any claims to Ukraine, nor to most of its people. He claims only to protect the rights of ethnic minority Russians, which is a 'reason' for meddling that is hold and much too used by many nations. Putin has also not asserted internationally any fears of Ukraine as itself a threat to Russia. What he asserts is that the US moving into Ukraine, NATO moving in, would be a threat from them. It is the old point of NATO closing in on the Russian borders.
His demand in turn is not to take Ukraine. His demand is that it be neutralised. That NATO commit not to go there. Can Ukraine live with that? It might be able to do so, if it has a few other agreements, like continued gas transit income and withdrawal from its eastern regions in return for some protection to ethnic Russians there. NATO should be able to live with that. We often enough say that we are not really closing in on Russia. So don't.
Ukraine doesn't have the means to defend itself against Russia. The US may not intervene, but NATO may. There are many countries in Eastern Europe that are in NATO, and they will probably not appreciate Russia annexing Ukraine. Putin is unfazed by Biden's threats, and only significant military presence will deter Russia. I do not think it will be that easy, but at the least Russia will notice it and take note of it. Putin is a shrewd politician and knows that there will be Western uproar if he invades.