Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart on Thursday and expressed Washington’s “unwavering” support for Kyiv amid tensions with Russia.
According to a readout of the call, Austin “reaffirmed unwavering US support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.” He also condemned what he called “Russian aggression.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken also spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart this week and made similar comments.
Ukraine has accused Moscow of stoking tensions by massing troops near Russia’s border with Ukraine. But Russia denies the troop movements are meant to be threatening. “The Russian Federation transfers the Armed Forces on its soil as it wants to,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, according to Russia’s TASS News Agency. “This should not concern anyone and this is not posing any threat to anyone.”
Moscow also warned Kyiv against restarting fighting in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, where a ceasefire agreed to last year has held relatively well, although there have been recent violations. In one incident, four Ukrainian soldiers died, which Ukraine is blaming on Russia, although Moscow denies having troops in Donbas.
The fighting in Donbas was sparked by the 2014 US-backed coup in Kyiv. Separatists in Donbas rejected the post-coup government. Since then, the US has provided Ukraine with more than $2 billion in military aid. The Pentagon recently announced a new $125 million package for Ukraine that includes armed patrol boats.
Peskov also mentioned the increased NATO activity near Russia. “There is increased activity on the perimeter of Russia’s borders by NATO, other alliances, individual countries — it all obliges us to be vigilant,” he said. Ukraine is planning to build new military bases on the Black Sea with the help of NATO.
The Russians mass troops on their own border. The USA masses troops within other countries borders.
And drops bomb within multiple countries, don’t forget the bombs, political upheaval, the list is endless of the vile acts of the most vile nation on Earth, the USA.
Yes, but, better said “vile ruling class”.
And they’re being “aggressive”? It makes you wonder if they actually listen to what comes out of their mouths.
NATO surrounds Russia with missiles. At Russia’s borders.
That may be the case however all EU cities are within the range of Russian missilles , it`s like WW2 while US citizens parted Europe was being reduced to rubble.
“Unwavering”? Has Congress app0roved that? No.
Biden is determined to start WWIII with Russia, China and Iran even though Austin knows we will lose.
I wonder how many Russian warships are sailing just off the US coast? I wonder how many Russian aircraft are regularly carrying out recon flights just outside US airspace? Meanwhile the US is regularly sailing into the Black Sea, and there are daily flights just off the Russian, Black Sea coast by Global Hawk drones, U2 spy aircraft and RC135 aircraft.
It`s Russian subs the US worries about i read a report about Russia was developing drone subs no doubt with Chinese tech , a drone sub lying on the bottom of the ocean just waiting out of sound or sight is a nightmare for the USA.
Imagine if Russian troops were in Mexico near our border and then complained about aggressive actions whenever American troops moved about in the USA.
The problem the US has is , if there is any conflict between the US / NATO and it spills over into Europe which it will because all EU members are NATO members what happens then , the fact is it`s just sare rattling by the US / NATO they won`t go to war over a failed state like Ukraine.
Where have I seen this play before? Oh yeah … Ukraine 2021 = Georgia 1991, Zelensky = Saakashvili. One’s a comedian, the other a clown. I expect the ending to be the same.
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/as-russian-tanks-move-toward-ukraine-the-globe-braces-for-the-possibility-that-world-war-3-could-soon-erupt/
Ukraine’s Comedian-in-Chief signed a war declaration.
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/ukrainian-troops-are-being-fired-upon-by-grenade-launchers-and-machine-guns-as-more-russian-forces-race-toward-the-border/
My opinion is the decree’s intent was to draw Russia into a US-designed trap. Moscow might have willingly accepted the bait.
What if hypersonic missiles are launched into Ukraine, the Baltic countries, Western Europe, and perhaps North America?
Aren’t we fortunate Joe Biden and his handlers are of sound mind and body (sarc)?
Go to Rt’s latest talk show with Peter Lavelle discussing the Ukraine conundrum. It will be on my Facebook as well.
If the Ukrainians are stupid enough to start a war with Russia I bet the Ukrainians get whacked good before Uncle Sam can get involved in a meaningful way. Airspace over the Ukraine will belong to the VKS from day one and I would expect strategic and tactical targets will be struck across the country, not only in areas abutting the Donbass. Let’s wait and see just how crazy these folks are.
Why not just tell Ukraine to shell all of eastern Ukraine with heavy artillery and kill every man, woman, and child? Who knows, maybe we are stocking them with the shells to do it. ‘Unwavering’, unconditional support encourages aggression.