US Warns Europe Of Potential Russian Invasion On Ukraine
WASHINGTON - The United States has warned European allies that Russia might be planning an invasion on the Ukraine after monitoring Russian troop movements on the Russia/Ukraine border according to a new Report from Bloomberg.
According to the report, U.S. officials have carried out a briefing with European Union allies addressing concerns regarding new movements of Russian troops and military equipment to the Ukrainian border, including information not yet shared with European governments.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States is 'monitoring the region very closely' and will 'continue to consult closely as well with allies and partners on the issue'.
Blinken stated, "As we’ve made clear, any escalatory or aggressive actions would be of great concern to the United States" and said that while the United States does not know what Russia's intentions are, their 'playbook' has always been the invention of provocations near the Ukrainian border to justify military intervention.
"We don’t have clarity into Moscow’s intentions, but we do know its playbook. If there are any provocations that we’re seeing, they’re coming from Russia", Blinken said.
Last week, 15 Republicans who are members of the House Armed Services Committee urged Joe Biden to increase the amount of lethal aid to the Ukraine, including to deploy US forces to the Black Sea region.
United States Republican representatives Mike Rogers and Mike Turner wrote a Letter to the Biden administration 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.
On November 8th, the United States activated a European Artillery command that hasn't been activated for 30 years after observing Russian troop and artillery buildup on the Ukrainian border.
"The reactivation of the 56th Artillery Command will provide U.S. Army Europe and Africa with significant capabilities in multi-domain operations” said Major General 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, "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".
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.
In late October, the Ukraine launched an airstrike on Russian artillery and equipment in Donbass renewing fears of a military escalation between the two countries.