Continuing the narrative that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan claimed on Thursday that the threat of a Russian invasion is “high” after days of talks between Western powers and Moscow.
“There is no illusions on the part of any of us who have been dealing with this issue about what the prospects are for potential conflict and potential military escalation by Russia,” Sullivan said.
Russia has repeatedly denied that it is planning to invade Ukraine and insists that its military movements in the region are a response to increased US and NATO activity. During talks this week, the US and NATO rejected Russia’s demands for NATO to halt its eastward expansion.
Following a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) that included Russia, the US ambassador to the OSCE also warned of war in Europe. “We’re facing a crisis in European security. The drumbeat of war is sounding loud, and the rhetoric has gotten rather shrill,” Ambassador Michael Carpenter told reporters.
Sullivan said the Western talks with Russia this week were “frank and direct” and that the US would now consult with allies on how to proceed. The Kremlin described the meetings as “unsuccessful” and said the two sides were far apart on key issues.
Sullivan said there has yet to be an agreement between the US and Russia on more meetings. But in Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said dialogue between the two powers was always happening at some level. “I must reiterate that dialogue is still underway at many levels and in many directions,” he said.
Also on Thursday, Moscow warned against a piece of legislation introduced Wednesday by Senate Democrats that would pave the way for sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials. “We view the appearance of such documents and statements extremely negatively against the background of an ongoing series of negotiations, albeit unsuccessful ones,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
While no progress was made concerning Ukraine during this week’s flurry of diplomacy, the two sides did agree to eventually hold more talks on arms control and missile deployments.
Uhm, no. I don’t expect any further rounds of talks between the US and Russia on the level of this week’s talks. That ship has sailed. Ryabkov explicitly said he sees no reason to continue talks if the US conducts them as they did this week.
Putin will make the decision after receiving the US and NATO official written responses next week.
It will be interesting. Russia has sspelled out the issues related to its security. Without any response, military counter moves are next. Having insured that Ukraine does not attempt to invade Donetsk and Lugansk, Russia may be more concerned with military installations in Baltics or Romania and Bulgaria in Black Sea.
I don’t think Russia has “insured” that at all. They certainly would be wise not to assume so. Until Ukraine’s army is moved from the contact line, anything is possible.
But allegedly they are moving troops all along the border with Europe and have allegedly even moved some warships closer to the Baltic states. Presumably this is to prove Russia is serious about its concerns in those areas.
carrier groups are on the way, what a mess.
I am appalled at the way the US/NATO are conducting themselves against a friendly nation
https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2022/01/two-nato-carrier-groups-will-sail-north-exercise-cold-response
Russia says, ‘we insist that the U.S. stops using NATO expansion as an excuse to install new missile bases closer to our homeland’ (my summary).
Since the U.S. has not accepted Ukraine into NATO or installed U.S. missile bases, there will be no invasion
I wonder if we could consider Ukraine as rather defacto
Cherry-picking rule of law makes clowns of us all, does it not? By any right, what does have the usa to have military forces in Syria without any permission? nato in Libya wa the epitome of what nato was not designed for, nor for that matter what it did in the Balkans. Mirror, mirror on the wall who is the greatest hypocrite of dem all?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fabe17ada4ec42b61d7b6aabfd9229965fe7ac64599de6d3851a3a2e3cb08fd6.jpg
“the US would now consult with allies on how to proceed.”
No – the US would now consult with allies and tell them how to proceed.
Do you get the same feeling as me that the US wants Russia to invaded Ukraine
Yes – and Ukraine was the West’s pawn the whole time.
Yes…
Is anyone feeling the escalation?…
Ryabkov responded by threatening to move Russian forces into the Caribbean. Again.
Russian Peacekeeper boots on the ground in mexico due to escalation of us arms pouring from the usa