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Despite Kremlin assertions that forces were being pulled back from the region, Ukrainians resisted Moscow’s demands with a national show of flag-waving solidarity on Wednesday, while the US warned that Russia had added up to 7,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders.
Despite the fact that a feared Russian invasion of Ukraine did not occur, the US and its partners emphasised that the threat remains high, with Europe’s security and economic stability hanging in the balance.
According to Western estimates, Russia has gathered around 150,000 troops in Ukraine’s east, north, and south. Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated that he prefers a peaceful resolution to the problem, and US Vice President Joe Biden pledged that diplomacy would be given “every chance,” although he expressed reservations about Moscow’s intentions. Biden also stated that the United States and its allies will not “compromise essential principles” when it comes to Ukraine’s sovereignty.
A trainload of armoured vehicles travelling away from Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, was captured on film by the Russian Defense Ministry. It was also revealed that more tank regiments were being placed onto trains to return to their permanent bases following training activities. However, Russia continued to conduct war simulations near Ukraine’s borders and throughout its enormous territory.
According to a senior US administration official, the West detected that Russia had increased its force near Ukraine by 7,000 troops, with some arriving as recently as Wednesday, and that there had been a sharp increase in Russians making false claims that the Kremlin could use as a pretext for an invasion.
Reports of unmarked graves of civilians reportedly killed by Ukrainian forces, comments that the US and Ukraine are developing biological or chemical weapons, and claims that the West is sending in guerrillas to kill Ukrainians, according to the official.
The official talked to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly about classified activities. The official failed to back up his claims with evidence.
Threats of heavy sanctions from the US and Europe continue to be made. The East-West divide continues to be a source of contention.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told ABC News that “we haven’t seen a slowdown.” “Putin has the ability to fire the shot. Today, he’ll be able to do it. Tomorrow he’ll be able to do it. Next week, he might be able to pull it off. If he wants to retaliate against Ukraine, the military are ready.”
“More Russian forces, not fewer,” according to State Department spokesperson Ned Price.
Price, when asked why Russians would claim to be withdrawing when government intelligence, commercial satellite photographs, and social media videos showed no evidence, said: “This is the Russian playbook, to build a picture publicly… while they do the reverse.”
Multiple European states, as well as NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, stated they had not witnessed “any pullback of Russian forces.” He said this before chairing a NATO military ministers conference in Brussels:
“We will welcome it if they truly begin to withdraw forces, but that remains to be seen.”
Meanwhile, the alliance is debating this week how and when to send soldiers and weapons to Russia’s closest allies and the Black Sea region if Moscow orders an attack.
