Republicans Urge Biden To Send Troops And Weapons To Ukraine
WASHINGTON - United States Republican representatives Mike Rogers and Mike Turner are urging Joe Biden to "deploy a U.S. military presence in the Black Sea" including weapons and troops in light of the threat from the growing number of Russian troops and artillery stationed near the Ukrainian border.
Rogers wrote a letter to Biden that said, "With the recent massing of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border, we urge your administration to take immediate and swift action to provide support to Ukraine in the form of intelligence and weapons".
The letter also stated, "We also urge your administration to deploy a U.S. military presence in the Black Sea to deter a Russian invasion,” the letter says, adding Biden’s administration “cannot ignore Russia’s continued threat to international law and Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty".
"Additionally, we urge you to immediately consider an appropriate U.S. military presence and posture in the region and to initiate appropriate intelligence sharing activities between the U.S. and Ukraine to prevent the situation from escalating further".
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry estimates that Russia has around 90,000 troops stationed near their border, only around 10,000 troops less than the 100,000 that were stationed near the border back in March and April, before withdrawing about 20,000 troops but leaving their heavy equipment and artillery behind so that they could apparently return at a moments notice.
Satellite Photos obtained by POLITICO also show Russian armored vehicles, tank and self propelled artillery building up around 250 kilometers, or about 155 miles from the Ukrainian border.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry put out a statement saying, "Russia has periodically deployed and built up troops to maintain tensions in the region and exert political pressure on neighboring countries".
U.S. Senator Tom Cotton tweeted, "Joe Biden served in the Senate for much of the Cold War—he should know Vladimir Putin won’t stop his aggression until he is forced into a defensive posture by united Western pressure".
Rogers and Turner wrote, "Although Russia’s intentions are uncertain, the presence of Russia’s elite 1st Guard Tanks Army lends credibility to concerns that Russia is planning additional incursions into Ukraine territory" and called on the Biden administration to increase military aid to the Ukraine, "to deter and repel a renewed Russian incursion".
The United States has turned heads by activating a European artillery command that hasn't been activated for the last 30 years, as Russia begins to amass troops and artillery at their border with the Ukraine.
During a press release, the U.S. African and Europe theater command gave an announcement about the reactivation of the 56th Artillery Command. The ceremony for the reactivation will be held on November 8th.
"The reactivation of the 56th Artillery Command will provide U.S. Army Europe and Africa with significant capabilities in multi-domain operations” said Maj. Gen. Stephen J. Maranian, Commanding General, 56th Artillery Command.” It will further enable the synchronization of joint and multinational fires and effects, and employment of future long range surface to surface fires across the U.S. Army Europe and Africa area of responsibility."
Christiaan Triebert, from the New York Times stated on Monday, "Satellite image taken today by @Maxar reveals presence of a large ground forces deployment — incl. tanks, APCs, self-propelled artillery — to a training area north of Yelnya, Russia".
Meanwhile, the Ukraine has Deployed Combat Drones along the front lines in the Donbas region, which has also renewed concerns of a possible coming conflict between Russia an the Ukraine.