Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) met in Moscow last week to discuss “regional conflicts”, the Kremlin said on Monday.

The Kremlin’s spokesman said that Putin and CIA chief William Burns discussed bilateral ties, “regional conflicts” and a crisis in diplomatic relations. He did not provide further details.&nbsp;

The meet comes amid reports of Russian troops build-up in the annexed part of Ukraine.

Burns was in Russia for two days of meetings with top officials at the request of President Joe Biden, the US embassy has said.

Last week, CNN reported that Burns had been sent to Moscow to warn the Kremlin about the alleged build-up of troops near Ukraine’s border. It said that after his meetings in Russia, Burns spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by phone.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/whats-happening-between-russia-and-ukraine-heres-a-cheat-sheet-377164">What's happening between Russia and Ukraine? Here's a cheat-sheet</a>

Biden has increased pressure on Putin since becoming US president in January. In May, Russia formally designated the United States an “unfriendly state”.

The Pentagon said last week it was monitoring the situation in Ukraine closely amid reports of a new build-up of Russian troops on the country's border.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-military-spotted-near-ukraine-border-after-us-warning-376922">Russian military spotted near Ukraine border after US warning</a>

Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said earlier this week that an estimated 90,000 Russian troops were positioned along the border and in rebel-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine.

However, Russia denied the troop build-up claim.

“Russia maintains troops presence on its territory wherever it deems necessary,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters last week.

Russia earlier this week complained about US and NATO activity in the Black Sea as its naval forces practised destroying enemy targets there.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) met in Moscow last week to discuss “regional conflicts”, the Kremlin said on Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) met in Moscow last week to discuss “regional conflicts”, the Kremlin said on Monday. The Kremlin’s spokesman said that Putin and CIA chief William Burns discussed bilateral ties, “regional conflicts” and a crisis in diplomatic relations. He did not provide further details. The meet comes amid reports of Russian troops build-up in the annexed part of Ukraine. Burns was in Russia for two days of meetings with top officials at the request of President Joe Biden, the US embassy has said. Last week, CNN reported that Burns had been sent to Moscow to warn the Kremlin about the alleged build-up of troops near Ukraine’s border. It said that after his meetings in Russia, Burns spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by phone. Also read | What's happening between Russia and Ukraine? Here's a cheat-sheet Biden has increased pressure on Putin since becoming US president in January. In May, Russia formally designated the United States an “unfriendly state”. The Pentagon said last week it was monitoring the situation in Ukraine closely amid reports of a new build-up of Russian troops on the country's border. Also read | Russian military spotted near Ukraine border after US warning Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said earlier this week that an estimated 90,000 Russian troops were positioned along the border and in rebel-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine. However, Russia denied the troop build-up claim. “Russia maintains troops presence on its territory wherever it deems necessary,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters last week. Russia earlier this week complained about US and NATO activity in the Black Sea as its naval forces practised destroying enemy targets there. (With inputs from agencies)

Amid reports of Russian troop build-up in Ukraine, CIA chief met Putin in Moscow

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby has said that the US is aware of allegations of "unusual" Russian military activities near the Ukrainian border and will continue to speak with partners and closely monitor the region.&nbsp;

"We are aware of public reports of unusual Russian military activity near Ukraine and we're going to continue to consult with allies and partners on this issue. I can't speak for Russian intentions, but we are certainly monitoring the region closely as we always do, " Kirby said during a press briefing. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/whats-happening-between-russia-and-ukraine-heres-a-cheat-sheet-377164">Also read | What's happening between Russia and Ukraine? Here's a cheat-sheet</a>

The Washington Post reports that US officials are concerned about unexplained Russian military activity in the region.

Military Trains and truck convoys move tanks and missiles in Russia's southwest near Ukraine, according to videos uploaded on social media.

On the condition of anonymity, a US source confirmed that there had been some movement, albeit it was not as significant as the rise in Moscow's forces earlier this year.&nbsp;

Watch | Ukraine uses Turkish drone against Russia-backed separatists

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraine-uses-turkish-drone-against-russia-backed-separatists-424726/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The increase follows US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's trip to the Black Sea region, which included stops in NATO partner Ukraine and Georgia, as well as alliance full member Romania, to express solidarity and rally support for fighting Russia in the region.

Since 2014, rebels allied with Russia have fought Ukrainian government forces in eastern Ukraine.

In 2014, Russian soldiers annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula, prompting harsh Western sanctions on the country.&nbsp;

Russia massed thousands of troops, heavy military equipment, naval boats, and aircraft on the Ukraine-Crimea border and in Crimea in March, only weeks after President Joe Biden's inauguration, stoking concerns of an invasion.

The manoeuvres were described by Moscow as a drill, but many of the military equipment stayed for weeks, prompting observers to interpret them as a message to Biden.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby has said that the US is aware of allegations of "unusual" Russian military activities near the Ukrainian border and will continue to speak with partners and closely monitor the region.

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby has said that the US is aware of allegations of "unusual" Russian military activities near the Ukrainian border and will continue to speak with partners and closely monitor the region. "We are aware of public reports of unusual Russian military activity near Ukraine and we're going to continue to consult with allies and partners on this issue. I can't speak for Russian intentions, but we are certainly monitoring the region closely as we always do, " Kirby said during a press briefing. Also read | What's happening between Russia and Ukraine? Here's a cheat-sheet The Washington Post reports that US officials are concerned about unexplained Russian military activity in the region. Military Trains and truck convoys move tanks and missiles in Russia's southwest near Ukraine, according to videos uploaded on social media. On the condition of anonymity, a US source confirmed that there had been some movement, albeit it was not as significant as the rise in Moscow's forces earlier this year. Watch | Ukraine uses Turkish drone against Russia-backed separatists The increase follows US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's trip to the Black Sea region, which included stops in NATO partner Ukraine and Georgia, as well as alliance full member Romania, to express solidarity and rally support for fighting Russia in the region. Since 2014, rebels allied with Russia have fought Ukrainian government forces in eastern Ukraine. In 2014, Russian soldiers annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula, prompting harsh Western sanctions on the country. Russia massed thousands of troops, heavy military equipment, naval boats, and aircraft on the Ukraine-Crimea border and in Crimea in March, only weeks after President Joe Biden's inauguration, stoking concerns of an invasion. The manoeuvres were described by Moscow as a drill, but many of the military equipment stayed for weeks, prompting observers to interpret them as a message to Biden. (With inputs from agencies)

US monitoring reports of ‘unusual’ Russian troop activity near Ukraine: Pentagon

Despite Russia's assault within the country, the United States has recognised Ukraine's sovereignty.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday that the United States and its allies support Ukraine's authority in the future of their foreign policy.

As Russia's annexation of Crimea threatens Ukraine's territorial integrity, Zelenskyy has stated that the United States is the country's "primary partner in security and defence."&nbsp;

"US support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering," Austin said.&nbsp;

"So we again call on Russia to end its occupation of Crimea, to stop perpetuating the war in eastern Ukraine, to end its destabilizing activities in the Black Sea and along Ukraine’s borders, and to halt its persistent cyberattacks and other malign activities against the United States and our allies and partners," Austin said during a press conference in Kyiv alongside Zelensky.

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We again call on Russia to end its occupation of Crimea, to stop perpetuating the war in eastern Ukraine, to end its destabilizing activities in the Black Sea and along Ukraine’s borders, and to halt its persistent cyber attacks. <a href="https://t.co/LgXdKWYCfN">pic.twitter.com/LgXdKWYCfN</a>
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Relations between Russia and the United States have reached a post-Cold War low.

In an effort to demonstrate unity in military reforms, the United States has continued to step up and collaborate with Russia's neighbours such as Ukraine.

Following the overthrow of Ukraine's Moscow-friendly president in 2014, Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula. 
 
Watch | Putin drives car in annexed Crimea during rare trip outside Moscow

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/putin-drives-car-in-annexed-crimea-during-rare-trip-outside-moscow-323667/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Moscow has also backed a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine, which started weeks after Crimea's takeover and has killed over 14,000 people.

The annexation of Crimea, as well as Russia's support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, have brought Moscow-West ties to post-Cold War lows.&nbsp;

Tensions heightened earlier this year as Russia raised troop numbers along its borders with Ukraine, especially in Crimea, escalating international worries.

Ukraine's pursuit for future NATO membership has been regarded by the Kremlin as a red line and a serious danger to national security.

Austin stated following his meetings in Kyiv on Tuesday that "no third nation has a veto over NATO's membership choices."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Despite Russia's assault within the country, the United States has recognised Ukraine's sovereignty. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday that the United States and its allies support Ukraine's authority in the future of their foreign policy.

Despite Russia's assault within the country, the United States has recognised Ukraine's sovereignty. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday that the United States and its allies support Ukraine's authority in the future of their foreign policy. As Russia's annexation of Crimea threatens Ukraine's territorial integrity, Zelenskyy has stated that the United States is the country's "primary partner in security and defence." "US support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering," Austin said. "So we again call on Russia to end its occupation of Crimea, to stop perpetuating the war in eastern Ukraine, to end its destabilizing activities in the Black Sea and along Ukraine’s borders, and to halt its persistent cyberattacks and other malign activities against the United States and our allies and partners," Austin said during a press conference in Kyiv alongside Zelensky. We again call on Russia to end its occupation of Crimea, to stop perpetuating the war in eastern Ukraine, to end its destabilizing activities in the Black Sea and along Ukraine’s borders, and to halt its persistent cyber attacks. pic.twitter.com/LgXdKWYCfN — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) October 19, 2021 × Relations between Russia and the United States have reached a post-Cold War low. In an effort to demonstrate unity in military reforms, the United States has continued to step up and collaborate with Russia's neighbours such as Ukraine. Following the overthrow of Ukraine's Moscow-friendly president in 2014, Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula. Watch | Putin drives car in annexed Crimea during rare trip outside Moscow Moscow has also backed a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine, which started weeks after Crimea's takeover and has killed over 14,000 people. The annexation of Crimea, as well as Russia's support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, have brought Moscow-West ties to post-Cold War lows. Tensions heightened earlier this year as Russia raised troop numbers along its borders with Ukraine, especially in Crimea, escalating international worries. Ukraine's pursuit for future NATO membership has been regarded by the Kremlin as a red line and a serious danger to national security. Austin stated following his meetings in Kyiv on Tuesday that "no third nation has a veto over NATO's membership choices." (With inputs from agencies)

Return Crimea to Ukraine, stop cyber attacks on America: US tells Russia 

In a fresh escalation in war of words towards Ukraine, Russia on Thursday said that Ukraine was moving heavy artillery towards front line where pro-Russian separatists are fighting with Ukrainian forces. Russia also accused Ukraine of failing to engage in peace process.

The remarks came from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. The words gave no sign that Moscow is willing to tone down its bitter criticism of Ukraine despite a two-hour call this week between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden.

"Negotiations on a peaceful settlement have practically hit a dead end," Zakharova told reporters, referring to the seven-year conflict between Ukrainian and separatist forces in the eastern Donbass region.

The ministry's Twitter feed, quoting Zakharova, said: "With the support of NATO countries pumping the country with weapons, Kyiv is building up its contingent on the line of contact in Donbass."

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-commanders-say-a-russian-invasion-would-overwhelm-them-435579">Ukraine commanders say a Russian invasion would overwhelm them</a>

She said Ukraine was only "imitating" the process of fulfilling its obligations under the 2014 and 2015 Minsk accords designed to end the conflict.

There was no immediate response from the Ukrainian side. Kyiv has denied Russian accusations it plans to seize back territory by force and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said this week that he was hopeful of reaching a new ceasefire deal.

Tuesday's US-Russian call was dominated by tensions over Ukraine, with Biden voicing concern about a Russian military build-up near the border and telling Putin that Moscow would face serious economic consequences if it invaded.

Putin has said talk of an invasion is "provocative" and accused Ukraine and NATO of fanning tensions.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a fresh escalation in war of words towards Ukraine, Russia on Thursday said that Ukraine was moving heavy artillery towards front line where pro-Russian separatists are fighting with Ukrainian forces.

In a fresh escalation in war of words towards Ukraine, Russia on Thursday said that Ukraine was moving heavy artillery towards front line where pro-Russian separatists are fighting with Ukrainian forces. Russia also accused Ukraine of failing to engage in peace process. The remarks came from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. The words gave no sign that Moscow is willing to tone down its bitter criticism of Ukraine despite a two-hour call this week between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden. "Negotiations on a peaceful settlement have practically hit a dead end," Zakharova told reporters, referring to the seven-year conflict between Ukrainian and separatist forces in the eastern Donbass region. The ministry's Twitter feed, quoting Zakharova, said: "With the support of NATO countries pumping the country with weapons, Kyiv is building up its contingent on the line of contact in Donbass." Also Read | Ukraine commanders say a Russian invasion would overwhelm them She said Ukraine was only "imitating" the process of fulfilling its obligations under the 2014 and 2015 Minsk accords designed to end the conflict. There was no immediate response from the Ukrainian side. Kyiv has denied Russian accusations it plans to seize back territory by force and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said this week that he was hopeful of reaching a new ceasefire deal. Tuesday's US-Russian call was dominated by tensions over Ukraine, with Biden voicing concern about a Russian military build-up near the border and telling Putin that Moscow would face serious economic consequences if it invaded. Putin has said talk of an invasion is "provocative" and accused Ukraine and NATO of fanning tensions. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine moved heavy artillery towards conflict zone, alleges Russia

It is a sign of the heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine that for a few hours this week, а meandering, half-century-old Ukrainian naval ship seemed like it could spark a worrisome military escalation.

The ship, according to Ukrainian officials, was unarmed and involved in a simple training exercise Thursday in a small but strategic waterway bordered by Ukraine to the west and Russia to the east. It seemed to be primarily an example of the Ukrainian navy’s decrepitude, although it’s possible that Ukraine, too, could have been trying to push the boundaries and provoke Russia.

Either way, the Russian security services and state news media quickly seized on the encounter, portraying it as an imminent threat.

Russia’s domestic spy service, the FSB, announced late in the evening that it had intercepted the ship for failing to obey orders. That set off the Kremlin’s propagandists, who played up the move as a prelude to war. RT, a Russian government television station, began livestreaming coverage on YouTube under the headline “UKRAINIAN PROVOCATION,” with a military analyst suggesting the ship should be blown out of the water.

“This is the provocation everyone has been waiting for,” Andrei Medvedev, an RT contributor wrote.

In the end, it was not, as the vessel returned to port without incident.

A lumbering ship may not yet be enough to provoke a full-on Russian assault. But with Moscow having amassed nearly 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders, along with tanks, fighter aircraft and ballistic missiles, people on all sides of the conflict are jumpy.

The brief flare-up not only underscores the dangers inherent in the conflict between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists, but also suggests that the situation remains volatile even after a video call this week between President Joe Biden and President Vladimir Putin of Russia aimed at ratcheting down tensions.

Putin’s rhetoric on Ukraine has become increasingly ominous. And Ukrainian troops are arrayed along a 250-mile barricade of trenches and fortifications that regularly erupts in machine gun and artillery fire as they face off against the separatists in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine.

Much is riding on diplomatic efforts in the next days and weeks, experts said.

“I think that it’s obviously tense, but it’s not like we’re ready to roll,” said Eugene Rumer, director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Rumer raised the possibility that, once Russia makes the decision to invade, it could use a minor incident as justification.

“If Putin realizes this conversation with Biden is not going anywhere, that he’s not getting what he wants, that this is hopeless, then I can imagine that a drone incident or a shell that somebody lobs could provide the pretext to pull the trigger,” he said.

Indeed, the decision by the FSB to intercept a seemingly harmless ship, combined with the furious reaction from the Kremlin’s propagandists, has unnerved Ukrainian and Western officials, who fear that it serves as a model for how the Kremlin could use a contrived excuse to invade.

Ukrainian observers said they found the timing of the FSB’s announcement suspicious. It came out around the time the government released the details of a telephone call between Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Biden.

In a statement on Twitter, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv delivered an unusually pointed response, saying that the Ukrainian ship did nothing illegal and accusing the Russian government of intentionally ginning up a controversy.

“Russia’s false allegations are part of its ongoing campaign to distract from its latest aggressive, provocative action,” the embassy wrote.

The ship — ironically named Donbass, the heart of the separatist territory — was intercepted in the Sea of Azov near the Kerch Strait, a narrow passage near Russian-occupied Crimea over which Ukraine and Russia have repeatedly clashed. In 2018, Russian forces opened fire on several Ukrainian naval vessels and arrested a number of sailors, whom they accused of straying into territorial waters that the Kremlin claimed as its own after the annexation of Crimea.

The FSB said the Donbass had refused to obey orders to divert from a course leading to the Kerch Strait. “These actions represent a threat to the safety of navigation,” its statement said.

According to Ukrainian officials, the ship never came closer than 18 nautical miles from the disputed waterway.

Ukrainian and Western officials say that Russian authorities, including Putin, seem to be previewing their rationalizations for an invasion. This month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that Russia had “intensified disinformation to paint Ukraine as the aggressor to justify pre-planned military action.”

These efforts appeared to continue even after the video call between Putin and Biden.

In defiance of all evidence to the contrary, Putin on Thursday accused Ukrainian authorities of carrying out “a genocide” against the residents of the Donbass. Although civilians in the separatist territories live under the protection of Russian-backed military forces, Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT and one of the Kremlin’s chief propagandists, immediately amplified the claims, suggesting she hoped Russia would come to the residents’ rescue.

“Mother Russia has more than once saved millions from different forms of genocide,” she wrote on Telegram.

“I don’t know if he had that in mind,” she said of Putin, “but I certainly hope he did.”

The bellicose statements come against the backdrop of continuing violence along the so-called line of control separating Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists. On Thursday, two Ukrainian service members were wounded in attacks on front-line positions, the country’s military press service reported.

Meanwhile, the buildup of Russian troops on the border shows no sign of abating. Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that tank divisions from the western military district had practiced taking out anti-tank rockets similar to the Javelins provided by the United States and now deployed by Ukrainian forces in the country’s east. The exercises were held at training grounds in the Voronezh region, less than 200 miles from the Russia-Ukraine border.

Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, warned in remarks to military attachés Thursday that worsening tensions in the region could force Russia to respond. In his statement, he specifically mentioned Russia’s opposition to the Javelins, which Ukrainian forces have not yet used on the battlefield, as well as Turkish-made Bayraktar drones, which have been used to attack separatists positions.

“Any provocation by the Ukrainian authorities to solve the problems of Donbass using force will be suppressed,” he said.

It is a sign of the heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine that for a few hours this week, а meandering, half-century-old Ukrainian naval ship seemed like it could spark a worrisome military escalation.

It is a sign of the heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine that for a few hours this week, а meandering, half-century-old Ukrainian naval ship seemed like it could spark a worrisome military escalation. The ship, according to Ukrainian officials, was unarmed and involved in a simple training exercise Thursday in a small but strategic waterway bordered by Ukraine to the west and Russia to the east. It seemed to be primarily an example of the Ukrainian navy’s decrepitude, although it’s possible that Ukraine, too, could have been trying to push the boundaries and provoke Russia. Either way, the Russian security services and state news media quickly seized on the encounter, portraying it as an imminent threat. Russia’s domestic spy service, the FSB, announced late in the evening that it had intercepted the ship for failing to obey orders. That set off the Kremlin’s propagandists, who played up the move as a prelude to war. RT, a Russian government television station, began livestreaming coverage on YouTube under the headline “UKRAINIAN PROVOCATION,” with a military analyst suggesting the ship should be blown out of the water. “This is the provocation everyone has been waiting for,” Andrei Medvedev, an RT contributor wrote. In the end, it was not, as the vessel returned to port without incident. A lumbering ship may not yet be enough to provoke a full-on Russian assault. But with Moscow having amassed nearly 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders, along with tanks, fighter aircraft and ballistic missiles, people on all sides of the conflict are jumpy. The brief flare-up not only underscores the dangers inherent in the conflict between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists, but also suggests that the situation remains volatile even after a video call this week between President Joe Biden and President Vladimir Putin of Russia aimed at ratcheting down tensions. Putin’s rhetoric on Ukraine has become increasingly ominous. And Ukrainian troops are arrayed along a 250-mile barricade of trenches and fortifications that regularly erupts in machine gun and artillery fire as they face off against the separatists in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. Much is riding on diplomatic efforts in the next days and weeks, experts said. “I think that it’s obviously tense, but it’s not like we’re ready to roll,” said Eugene Rumer, director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Rumer raised the possibility that, once Russia makes the decision to invade, it could use a minor incident as justification. “If Putin realizes this conversation with Biden is not going anywhere, that he’s not getting what he wants, that this is hopeless, then I can imagine that a drone incident or a shell that somebody lobs could provide the pretext to pull the trigger,” he said. Indeed, the decision by the FSB to intercept a seemingly harmless ship, combined with the furious reaction from the Kremlin’s propagandists, has unnerved Ukrainian and Western officials, who fear that it serves as a model for how the Kremlin could use a contrived excuse to invade. Ukrainian observers said they found the timing of the FSB’s announcement suspicious. It came out around the time the government released the details of a telephone call between Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Biden. In a statement on Twitter, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv delivered an unusually pointed response, saying that the Ukrainian ship did nothing illegal and accusing the Russian government of intentionally ginning up a controversy. “Russia’s false allegations are part of its ongoing campaign to distract from its latest aggressive, provocative action,” the embassy wrote. The ship — ironically named Donbass, the heart of the separatist territory — was intercepted in the Sea of Azov near the Kerch Strait, a narrow passage near Russian-occupied Crimea over which Ukraine and Russia have repeatedly clashed. In 2018, Russian forces opened fire on several Ukrainian naval vessels and arrested a number of sailors, whom they accused of straying into territorial waters that the Kremlin claimed as its own after the annexation of Crimea. The FSB said the Donbass had refused to obey orders to divert from a course leading to the Kerch Strait. “These actions represent a threat to the safety of navigation,” its statement said. According to Ukrainian officials, the ship never came closer than 18 nautical miles from the disputed waterway. Ukrainian and Western officials say that Russian authorities, including Putin, seem to be previewing their rationalizations for an invasion. This month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that Russia had “intensified disinformation to paint Ukraine as the aggressor to justify pre-planned military action.” These efforts appeared to continue even after the video call between Putin and Biden. In defiance of all evidence to the contrary, Putin on Thursday accused Ukrainian authorities of carrying out “a genocide” against the residents of the Donbass. Although civilians in the separatist territories live under the protection of Russian-backed military forces, Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT and one of the Kremlin’s chief propagandists, immediately amplified the claims, suggesting she hoped Russia would come to the residents’ rescue. “Mother Russia has more than once saved millions from different forms of genocide,” she wrote on Telegram. “I don’t know if he had that in mind,” she said of Putin, “but I certainly hope he did.” The bellicose statements come against the backdrop of continuing violence along the so-called line of control separating Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists. On Thursday, two Ukrainian service members were wounded in attacks on front-line positions, the country’s military press service reported. Meanwhile, the buildup of Russian troops on the border shows no sign of abating. Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that tank divisions from the western military district had practiced taking out anti-tank rockets similar to the Javelins provided by the United States and now deployed by Ukrainian forces in the country’s east. The exercises were held at training grounds in the Voronezh region, less than 200 miles from the Russia-Ukraine border. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, warned in remarks to military attachés Thursday that worsening tensions in the region could force Russia to respond. In his statement, he specifically mentioned Russia’s opposition to the Javelins, which Ukrainian forces have not yet used on the battlefield, as well as Turkish-made Bayraktar drones, which have been used to attack separatists positions. “Any provocation by the Ukrainian authorities to solve the problems of Donbass using force will be suppressed,” he said.

Russia-Ukraine sea encounter highlights jittery nerves in the region

As fresh tensions build up between the US and Russia over reported military build-up near Ukraine border, Moscow on Saturday clarified that President Vladimir Putin has no plans to launch an offensive against the neighbouring country,&nbsp;news agency ANI reported.

Speaking to Greek TV channel ANT1, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that purported military build-up near its borders was in response to US military’s presence in Ukraine.

When asked whether Putin was planning to carry out an attack on Ukraine Peskov was quoted as saying, "No, the problem is very simple".

He added, "Russia is moving its forces within its territory, and we can move our forces in any direction we want and closer to the areas that could pose a threat [and currently] we see US warplanes landing in Ukraine and US military equipment approaching our borders.”&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-warns-russia-on-strategic-mistake-over-military-action-in-ukraine-436071">UK warns Russia on 'strategic mistake' over military action in Ukraine</a>

Peskov’s response came a week after US intelligence officials claimed that Russia was planning for a possible military offensive against Ukraine “that could begin as soon as early 2022 and would include an estimated 1,75,000 personnel”.

The new intelligence finding estimates that half of the Russian personnel are already deployed along various points near Ukraine's border, news agency AP quoted a Biden administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-will-happen-if-russian-troops-invade-ukraine-431684">Read in Pics:&nbsp;What will happen if Russian troops invade Ukraine?</a>

Earlier on Friday, US President Joe Biden said that he would make it “very, very difficult” for Russia to launch any invasion of Ukraine, which warned that a large-scale attack could be planned for next month.

The US president told reporters he was putting together “the most comprehensive and meaningful set of initiatives to make it very, very difficult for Mr Putin to go ahead and do what people are worried he may do”.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nato-chief-jens-stoltenberg-turns-down-russias-demand-to-deny-ukraine-entry-436007">Also Read:&nbsp;NATO chief&nbsp;turns down Russia's demand to deny Ukraine entry</a>

Moscow seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and has since backed separatists fighting Kyiv in the east of the country. The conflict has left more than 13,000 dead.

(With inputs from agencies)

As fresh tensions build up between the US and Russia over reported military build-up near Ukraine border, Moscow on Saturday clarified that President Vladimir Putin has no plans to launch an offensive against the neighbouring country, news agency ANI reported.

As fresh tensions build up between the US and Russia over reported military build-up near Ukraine border, Moscow on Saturday clarified that President Vladimir Putin has no plans to launch an offensive against the neighbouring country, news agency ANI reported. Speaking to Greek TV channel ANT1, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that purported military build-up near its borders was in response to US military’s presence in Ukraine. When asked whether Putin was planning to carry out an attack on Ukraine Peskov was quoted as saying, "No, the problem is very simple". He added, "Russia is moving its forces within its territory, and we can move our forces in any direction we want and closer to the areas that could pose a threat [and currently] we see US warplanes landing in Ukraine and US military equipment approaching our borders.” Also read | UK warns Russia on 'strategic mistake' over military action in Ukraine Peskov’s response came a week after US intelligence officials claimed that Russia was planning for a possible military offensive against Ukraine “that could begin as soon as early 2022 and would include an estimated 1,75,000 personnel”. The new intelligence finding estimates that half of the Russian personnel are already deployed along various points near Ukraine's border, news agency AP quoted a Biden administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Read in Pics: What will happen if Russian troops invade Ukraine? Earlier on Friday, US President Joe Biden said that he would make it “very, very difficult” for Russia to launch any invasion of Ukraine, which warned that a large-scale attack could be planned for next month. The US president told reporters he was putting together “the most comprehensive and meaningful set of initiatives to make it very, very difficult for Mr Putin to go ahead and do what people are worried he may do”. Also Read: NATO chief turns down Russia's demand to deny Ukraine entry Moscow seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and has since backed separatists fighting Kyiv in the east of the country. The conflict has left more than 13,000 dead. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine row: US military equipment approaching our borders, says Russia while admitting own troop buildup

Ahead of the G7 foreign ministers meet, UK's foreign minister Liz Truss said Russia would be committing a "strategic mistake" if it attacked Ukraine.

Truss said there would be "severe consequences if anything were to happen" referring to Russia's reported plan to attack Ukraine which has been dominated the European agenda in the past month.

The UK foreign minister also expressed concern over the Nordstream 2 natural gas pipeline project.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-will-happen-if-russian-troops-invade-ukraine-431684">Read in Pics:&nbsp;What will happen if Russian troops invade Ukraine?</a>

"Nordstream 2 is very important," Truss said, adding, "moving ahead with that in the case of this aggression that we're seeing by Russia with respect to Ukraine would be a problem."

Watch: President Biden reaffirms support for Ukraine in call with Zelenskyy

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President Biden during a virtual summit with President Putin had threatened sanctions if Russia attacked Ukraine with the UK foreign minister retreating that trade ties with London would be hit if the Ukraine situation went out of control.

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President Biden had spoken to &nbsp;Germany's new chancellor Olaf Scholz on the tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

"We need to come together strongly to stand up to aggressors who are seeking to limit the bounds of freedom and democracy," Truss said.

India, South Korea, Australia and South Africa are set to participate as guests during the G7 summit.

Russia had said earlier that NATO should not allow Georgia and Ukraine into its military alliance and desist from expanding near its border in the east.

"In the fundamental interests of European security, it is necessary to officially disavow the decision of the 2008 NATO Bucharest summit that 'Ukraine and Georgia will become NATO members," the Russian foreign ministry said.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Ahead of the G7 foreign ministers meet, UK's foreign minister Liz Truss said Russia would be committing a "strategic mistake" if it attacked Ukraine. Truss said there would be "severe consequences if anything were to happen" referring to Russia's reported plan to attack Ukraine which has been dominated the European agenda in the past month.

Ahead of the G7 foreign ministers meet, UK's foreign minister Liz Truss said Russia would be committing a "strategic mistake" if it attacked Ukraine. Truss said there would be "severe consequences if anything were to happen" referring to Russia's reported plan to attack Ukraine which has been dominated the European agenda in the past month. The UK foreign minister also expressed concern over the Nordstream 2 natural gas pipeline project. Read in Pics: What will happen if Russian troops invade Ukraine? "Nordstream 2 is very important," Truss said, adding, "moving ahead with that in the case of this aggression that we're seeing by Russia with respect to Ukraine would be a problem." Watch: President Biden reaffirms support for Ukraine in call with Zelenskyy President Biden during a virtual summit with President Putin had threatened sanctions if Russia attacked Ukraine with the UK foreign minister retreating that trade ties with London would be hit if the Ukraine situation went out of control. Also Read: NATO chief turns down Russia's demand to deny Ukraine entry President Biden had spoken to Germany's new chancellor Olaf Scholz on the tensions between Ukraine and Russia. "We need to come together strongly to stand up to aggressors who are seeking to limit the bounds of freedom and democracy," Truss said. India, South Korea, Australia and South Africa are set to participate as guests during the G7 summit. Russia had said earlier that NATO should not allow Georgia and Ukraine into its military alliance and desist from expanding near its border in the east. "In the fundamental interests of European security, it is necessary to officially disavow the decision of the 2008 NATO Bucharest summit that 'Ukraine and Georgia will become NATO members," the Russian foreign ministry said. (With inputs from Agencies)

UK warns Russia on 'strategic mistake' over military action in Ukraine

The leaders of Ukraine, France and Germany will hold three-way talks on Friday about Ukraine's standoff with Russia over the conflict in the eastern Donbass region, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video released to media on Thursday (April 15).

Zelenskiy will travel to Paris to meet French President Emmanuel Macron and they will speak to German Chancellor Angela Merkel on a video conference, he said.

The meeting would lay the groundwork for a meeting in the so-called "Normandy" format, he said, though he gave no indication whether or when such a meeting could happen.

The "Normandy" format talks involve the leaders of France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia and have not taken place since December 2019.

"...This is an important preparatory meeting for the Normandy format," Zelenskiy said, adding that "the situation in Donbass is now under control."

Ukraine and Russia have traded blame over a spike in violence in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian troops have battled Russian-backed forces in a conflict that Kyiv says has killed 14,000 people since 2014.

Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Russia of a "provocative" build-up of troops near Ukraine's eastern border and annexed Crimea.

Zelenskiy also thanked Turkey for its support and said Ukrainian tourists should visit Turkey after Russia restricted travel there.

The Turkish government said earlier on Thursday it was not picking sides in the standoff and supported a diplomatic solution.

The leaders of Ukraine, France and Germany will hold three-way talks on Friday about Ukraine's standoff with Russia over the conflict in the eastern Donbass region, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video released to media on Thursday (April 15).

The leaders of Ukraine, France and Germany will hold three-way talks on Friday about Ukraine's standoff with Russia over the conflict in the eastern Donbass region, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video released to media on Thursday (April 15). Zelenskiy will travel to Paris to meet French President Emmanuel Macron and they will speak to German Chancellor Angela Merkel on a video conference, he said. The meeting would lay the groundwork for a meeting in the so-called "Normandy" format, he said, though he gave no indication whether or when such a meeting could happen. The "Normandy" format talks involve the leaders of France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia and have not taken place since December 2019. "...This is an important preparatory meeting for the Normandy format," Zelenskiy said, adding that "the situation in Donbass is now under control." Ukraine and Russia have traded blame over a spike in violence in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian troops have battled Russian-backed forces in a conflict that Kyiv says has killed 14,000 people since 2014. Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Russia of a "provocative" build-up of troops near Ukraine's eastern border and annexed Crimea. Zelenskiy also thanked Turkey for its support and said Ukrainian tourists should visit Turkey after Russia restricted travel there. The Turkish government said earlier on Thursday it was not picking sides in the standoff and supported a diplomatic solution.

Ukraine's Zelenskiy to hold talks with Merkel, Macron about Russia standoff

Ukraine gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Relations between Ukraine and Russia have been on the boil since the Russian annexation of Ukraine's Crimea. Recently, the hostilities re-emerged over situation in Ukraine's Donbass region and Russian troop build-up on Ukraine-Russia border.

On March 26, four Ukrainian soldiers were killed by pro-Russian separatists. The killings contravened a ceasefire brokered in 2020 and ended a year of relative calm.

In the 17 days that have followed, the situation has become quite precarious. Thousands of soldiers have descended on the border. So have dozens of tanks and missile launchers.

Ukraine calls it an unwarranted provocation against its sovereignty.

"We clearly understand the scale of Russian military presence next to our border. I would like to specify that the question of war depends only on Putin," said Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council.

Russia calls the situation an escalated hysteria about a mythical threat.

"Troops are being transported there, mobilisation plans, calls of reservists are being renewed. Ukrainian media is escalating hysteria about the Russian mythical threat, about plans of Moscow attacking Ukraine practically tomorrow. All this is happening at the behest and open support of western curators of Kyiv," said Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russian Foreign Ministry.

So both Moscow and Kyiv deny stoking up tensions.

Then what exactly is happening and why is it happening?

At the root of the problem is Ukraine's geographical and demographic makeup. As a former Soviet territory, Ukraine is divided between an eastern region with close historical &amp; cultural ties to Russia and the rest of the country which identifies as more Ukrainian than anything else.

The east has been the hotbed of rebellion and pro-Russian sentiment. The rebels allegedly receive support from Moscow. And have played a key role in keeping the conflict simmering.

Since 2014, some 13,000 civilians, 4100 Ukrainian troops and 5650 pro-Russian separatists have been killed in this conflict. Ukraine is pushing for NATO membership to end it.

For NATO and Europe, this means influence on another one of Russia's borders. But Moscow views it as an existential threat. It has billions of dollars invested in Ukraine. A large part of Russian oil exports flow through the country.&nbsp;

There is indeed sizeable population of pro-Russian people who want to secede from Ukraine. The stakes are quite high and the prospects for a solution quite low. If this situation spirals into military conflict the implications for Europe and the world are quite severe.

Ukraine gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Relations between Ukraine and Russia have been on the boil since the Russian annexation of Ukraine's Crimea.

Ukraine gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Relations between Ukraine and Russia have been on the boil since the Russian annexation of Ukraine's Crimea. Recently, the hostilities re-emerged over situation in Ukraine's Donbass region and Russian troop build-up on Ukraine-Russia border. On March 26, four Ukrainian soldiers were killed by pro-Russian separatists. The killings contravened a ceasefire brokered in 2020 and ended a year of relative calm. In the 17 days that have followed, the situation has become quite precarious. Thousands of soldiers have descended on the border. So have dozens of tanks and missile launchers. Ukraine calls it an unwarranted provocation against its sovereignty. "We clearly understand the scale of Russian military presence next to our border. I would like to specify that the question of war depends only on Putin," said Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council. Russia calls the situation an escalated hysteria about a mythical threat. "Troops are being transported there, mobilisation plans, calls of reservists are being renewed. Ukrainian media is escalating hysteria about the Russian mythical threat, about plans of Moscow attacking Ukraine practically tomorrow. All this is happening at the behest and open support of western curators of Kyiv," said Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russian Foreign Ministry. So both Moscow and Kyiv deny stoking up tensions. Then what exactly is happening and why is it happening? At the root of the problem is Ukraine's geographical and demographic makeup. As a former Soviet territory, Ukraine is divided between an eastern region with close historical & cultural ties to Russia and the rest of the country which identifies as more Ukrainian than anything else. The east has been the hotbed of rebellion and pro-Russian sentiment. The rebels allegedly receive support from Moscow. And have played a key role in keeping the conflict simmering. Since 2014, some 13,000 civilians, 4100 Ukrainian troops and 5650 pro-Russian separatists have been killed in this conflict. Ukraine is pushing for NATO membership to end it. For NATO and Europe, this means influence on another one of Russia's borders. But Moscow views it as an existential threat. It has billions of dollars invested in Ukraine. A large part of Russian oil exports flow through the country. There is indeed sizeable population of pro-Russian people who want to secede from Ukraine. The stakes are quite high and the prospects for a solution quite low. If this situation spirals into military conflict the implications for Europe and the world are quite severe.

What's happening between Russia and Ukraine? Here's a cheat-sheet

Officials from Russia and Ukraine met in Paris to diffuse tension. The United States is now busy issuing fresh warnings over invasion threats.

US says Russia to use force by mid-Feb amid Ukraine invasion fears

In a possible sign that Ukraine and Russia may&nbsp;soon be embroiled in yet another conflict, Ukraine's defense minister said on Saturday that his country could be provoked due to Russian 'aggression'. The relations between the two countries are on the boil due to the situation in the conflict area of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.

The region has a sizeable Russian-speaking population.

The minister, Andrii Taran, said Russian accusations about the rights of Russian speakers being violated could be the reason for the resumption of armed aggression against Ukraine.

"At the same time, it should be noted that the intensification of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine is possible only if an appropriate political decision is made at the highest level in the Kremlin," he said in a statement.

Ukraine has been raising the issue of buildup of Russian forces near the Ukraine-Russia border.

Russian military movements have raised concerns. It is being apprehensively examined whether Russia wants to send forces into Ukraine.

Senior Kremlin official Dmitry Kozak last week said Russia would be forced to defend its citizens in eastern Ukraine depending on the scale of the military conflict there.

On Friday UK Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Russia to halt the troop buildup.

(With agency inputs)

In a possible sign that Ukraine and Russia may soon be embroiled in yet another conflict, Ukraine's defense minister said on Saturday that his country could be provoked due to Russian 'aggression'.

In a possible sign that Ukraine and Russia may soon be embroiled in yet another conflict, Ukraine's defense minister said on Saturday that his country could be provoked due to Russian 'aggression'. The relations between the two countries are on the boil due to the situation in the conflict area of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. The region has a sizeable Russian-speaking population. The minister, Andrii Taran, said Russian accusations about the rights of Russian speakers being violated could be the reason for the resumption of armed aggression against Ukraine. "At the same time, it should be noted that the intensification of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine is possible only if an appropriate political decision is made at the highest level in the Kremlin," he said in a statement. Ukraine has been raising the issue of buildup of Russian forces near the Ukraine-Russia border. Russian military movements have raised concerns. It is being apprehensively examined whether Russia wants to send forces into Ukraine. Senior Kremlin official Dmitry Kozak last week said Russia would be forced to defend its citizens in eastern Ukraine depending on the scale of the military conflict there. On Friday UK Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Russia to halt the troop buildup. (With agency inputs)

Ukraine: Can be provoked due to Russian 'aggression'

The United States is considering deploying warships to the Black Sea in coming weeks as Russia continues to amass forces along its border with Ukraine, according to a report published on Thursday.

The deployment would be intended as a direct message to Russia, CNN reported, citing anonymous officials. 
 
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According to CNN, the official said that the US Navy routinely operates in the Black Sea, but the deployment of warships now would send a specific message to Moscow that the US is closely watching.

The Defense official also said the Navy is continuing to fly reconnaissance aircraft in international airspace over the Black Sea to monitor Russian naval activity and any troops movements in Crimea.

As reported by the news outlet, Washington is required to give 14 days notice of its intention to enter the Black Sea under a 1936 treaty giving Turkey control of the straits to enter the sea.&nbsp;

It is unclear if a notice has yet been sent. On Wednesday, two US B-1 bombers Wednesday conducted missions over the Aegean Sea. Although the US does not see the amassing of Russian forces as posturing for offensive action, the official told CNN that "if something changes we will be ready to respond."&nbsp;

Their current assessment is that the Russians are conducting training and exercises and intelligence has not indicated military orders for further action, the official said but noted that they are well-aware that could change at any time. The Biden administration and the international community have expressed concerns about mounting tensions between Ukraine and Russia.&nbsp;

In recent weeks, President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley and national security adviser Jake Sullivan have all spoken to their Ukrainian counterparts."We are concerned by recent escalating Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, including the credible reports that have been emanating about Russian troop movements on Ukraine`s borders and occupied Crimea," State Department spokesperson Ned Price said this week as reported by CNN.

"We have asked Russia for an explanation of these provocations, but most importantly what we have signalled directly with our Ukrainian partners is a message of reassurance," he said.

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said this week that it was important "for all sides to comply with the Minsk Agreement" and "for the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of Ukraine to be respected by Russia.

"On Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw troops to de-escalate the situation, according to a spokesperson for the German government.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States is considering deploying warships to the Black Sea in coming weeks as Russia continues to amass forces along its border with Ukraine, according to a report published on Thursday.

The United States is considering deploying warships to the Black Sea in coming weeks as Russia continues to amass forces along its border with Ukraine, according to a report published on Thursday. The deployment would be intended as a direct message to Russia, CNN reported, citing anonymous officials. Also read: World War will begin in a month, warns military analyst According to CNN, the official said that the US Navy routinely operates in the Black Sea, but the deployment of warships now would send a specific message to Moscow that the US is closely watching. The Defense official also said the Navy is continuing to fly reconnaissance aircraft in international airspace over the Black Sea to monitor Russian naval activity and any troops movements in Crimea. As reported by the news outlet, Washington is required to give 14 days notice of its intention to enter the Black Sea under a 1936 treaty giving Turkey control of the straits to enter the sea. It is unclear if a notice has yet been sent. On Wednesday, two US B-1 bombers Wednesday conducted missions over the Aegean Sea. Although the US does not see the amassing of Russian forces as posturing for offensive action, the official told CNN that "if something changes we will be ready to respond." Their current assessment is that the Russians are conducting training and exercises and intelligence has not indicated military orders for further action, the official said but noted that they are well-aware that could change at any time. The Biden administration and the international community have expressed concerns about mounting tensions between Ukraine and Russia. In recent weeks, President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley and national security adviser Jake Sullivan have all spoken to their Ukrainian counterparts."We are concerned by recent escalating Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, including the credible reports that have been emanating about Russian troop movements on Ukraine`s borders and occupied Crimea," State Department spokesperson Ned Price said this week as reported by CNN. "We have asked Russia for an explanation of these provocations, but most importantly what we have signalled directly with our Ukrainian partners is a message of reassurance," he said. Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said this week that it was important "for all sides to comply with the Minsk Agreement" and "for the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of Ukraine to be respected by Russia. "On Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw troops to de-escalate the situation, according to a spokesperson for the German government. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia-Ukraine border crisis: US weighing sending warships to Black Sea amid tensions

Ukraine&nbsp;on Monday launched joint military exercises with the United States and other NATO countries as tensions with Russia remain high over the Kremlin-backed insurgency in the country's east.

The annual Rapid Trident military exercises, taking place in western Ukrainian until October 1, involve some 6,000 soldiers from 15 countries,&nbsp;Ukraine's defence ministry said in a statement.

The head of the exercises, Brigadier General Vladyslav Klochkov, said the drills were "an important step towards&nbsp;Ukraine's European integration".

"The Ukrainian military, which has been holding back Russian aggression for eight years, will share its unique combat experience with its international colleagues," he added.

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The drills start a week after Russia and Belarus held military exercises involving 200,000 personnel, one of their biggest drills in recent years.

More than 13,000 people have been killed since the rebel insurgency broke out in the eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions in April 2014 following Russia's annexation of Crimea from&nbsp;Ukraine.

At least 54 Ukrainian troops have been killed since the start of the year, compared with a total of 50 the previous year. The separatists say they have lost more than 30 fighters since the start of the year.

Ukraine&nbsp;and its Western allies accuse Russia of sending troops and arms to support the separatists, which Moscow denies.

In April, Russia amassed around 100,000 troops on&nbsp;Ukraine's borders, raising fears of a major escalation in the protracted conflict. Moscow later announced a pullback.

Ukraine on Monday launched joint military exercises with the United States and other NATO countries as tensions with Russia remain high over the Kremlin-backed insurgency in the country's east.

Ukraine on Monday launched joint military exercises with the United States and other NATO countries as tensions with Russia remain high over the Kremlin-backed insurgency in the country's east. The annual Rapid Trident military exercises, taking place in western Ukrainian until October 1, involve some 6,000 soldiers from 15 countries, Ukraine's defence ministry said in a statement. The head of the exercises, Brigadier General Vladyslav Klochkov, said the drills were "an important step towards Ukraine's European integration". "The Ukrainian military, which has been holding back Russian aggression for eight years, will share its unique combat experience with its international colleagues," he added. Also read | US starts deporting Haitian migrants from Texas The drills start a week after Russia and Belarus held military exercises involving 200,000 personnel, one of their biggest drills in recent years. More than 13,000 people have been killed since the rebel insurgency broke out in the eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions in April 2014 following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. At least 54 Ukrainian troops have been killed since the start of the year, compared with a total of 50 the previous year. The separatists say they have lost more than 30 fighters since the start of the year. Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Russia of sending troops and arms to support the separatists, which Moscow denies. In April, Russia amassed around 100,000 troops on Ukraine's borders, raising fears of a major escalation in the protracted conflict. Moscow later announced a pullback.

Ukraine launches military drills with NATO

Canada has asked its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Ukraine. The Canadian government stated "ongoing Russian aggression and military buildup in and around the country" as the reason behind the advisory. Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly is due to visit Ukrainian capital Kyiv next week to reaffirm Canadian support for Ukrainian sovereignty.

"We have changed the risk level for Ukraine to avoid non-essential travel due to ongoing Russian aggression and military buildup in and around the country", the Canadian government said in a travel advisory issued late Saturday.

Tensions between Ukraine and Russia remain high as Russia continue to station more than 100,000 troops at the border between the countries. Russia claims that it would not attack Ukraine but has threatened unspecified military action if its demands are not met. Russia is dead against Ukraine's inclusion in NATO.

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Canada, with a sizeable and politically influential population of Ukrainian descent, has taken a hard line with Russia since its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

Joly will meet Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal and travel to the west of the country to speak to a 200-strong Canadian training mission that has been there since 2015.

Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister Marta Morgan and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke on Friday and pledged continued close coordination to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine and called for Russian de-escalation, a US State Department spokesperson said on Saturday.

Russia did not walk out of meetings on the crisis with the United States and European nations last week, but the talks ended with U.S. officials warning that the risk of a Russian invasion of Ukraine remains high.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday and "emphasized that any military incursion into Ukraine would have serious consequences, including coordinated sanctions".

Canada has imposed punitive measures on more than 440 individuals and entities over the annexation of Crimea.

(With inputs from agencies)

Canada has asked its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Ukraine. The Canadian government stated "ongoing Russian aggression and military buildup in and around the country" as the reason behind the advisory.

Canada has asked its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Ukraine. The Canadian government stated "ongoing Russian aggression and military buildup in and around the country" as the reason behind the advisory. Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly is due to visit Ukrainian capital Kyiv next week to reaffirm Canadian support for Ukrainian sovereignty. "We have changed the risk level for Ukraine to avoid non-essential travel due to ongoing Russian aggression and military buildup in and around the country", the Canadian government said in a travel advisory issued late Saturday. Tensions between Ukraine and Russia remain high as Russia continue to station more than 100,000 troops at the border between the countries. Russia claims that it would not attack Ukraine but has threatened unspecified military action if its demands are not met. Russia is dead against Ukraine's inclusion in NATO. Also Read | Ukraine suspects hacker group linked to Belarusian intelligence behind cyberattack Canada, with a sizeable and politically influential population of Ukrainian descent, has taken a hard line with Russia since its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Joly will meet Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal and travel to the west of the country to speak to a 200-strong Canadian training mission that has been there since 2015. Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister Marta Morgan and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke on Friday and pledged continued close coordination to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine and called for Russian de-escalation, a US State Department spokesperson said on Saturday. Russia did not walk out of meetings on the crisis with the United States and European nations last week, but the talks ended with U.S. officials warning that the risk of a Russian invasion of Ukraine remains high. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday and "emphasized that any military incursion into Ukraine would have serious consequences, including coordinated sanctions". Canada has imposed punitive measures on more than 440 individuals and entities over the annexation of Crimea. (With inputs from agencies)

Canada advises citizens to avoid non-essential Ukraine travel due to 'Russian aggression'

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, the top US negotiator in US-Russia talks over Ukraine briefed NATO allies on Tuesday after inconclusive talks with Kremlin. Sherman held talks with Russia in Geneva on Monday (January 10). She met Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister &nbsp;Sergei Ryabkov

Some European officials have complained that Washington is taking the lead in talks with Moscow.&nbsp;

They fear being excluded from moves to resolve tensions on the Ukraine border and to head off confrontation.

But Sherman insisted that European allies are being kept in the loop, after meeting NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and ambassadors from the NATO member states.

"The United States is committed to working in lockstep with our allies and partners to urge de-escalation and respond to the security crisis caused by Russia," she tweeted.

With Stoltenberg, Sherman "affirmed a unified NATO approach toward Russia, balancing deterrence and dialogue, and stressed our unwavering support for Ukraine".

And, in a tweet addressed to Ukraine's deputy minister of foreign affairs Emine Dzhaparova, she assured Kiev that the allies "will not make decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine".

After more than seven hours of negotiations in Geneva on Monday, the Russian and US officials both offered to keep talking, though there was no sign of a breakthrough.

The high-stakes meeting came as fears simmered of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;

Moscow has demanded wide-ranging security concessions from Washington and its NATO allies, which in turn have threatened severe economic sanctions if there is any Russian attack.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, the top US negotiator in US-Russia talks over Ukraine briefed NATO allies on Tuesday after inconclusive talks with Kremlin.

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, the top US negotiator in US-Russia talks over Ukraine briefed NATO allies on Tuesday after inconclusive talks with Kremlin. Sherman held talks with Russia in Geneva on Monday (January 10). She met Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov Some European officials have complained that Washington is taking the lead in talks with Moscow. They fear being excluded from moves to resolve tensions on the Ukraine border and to head off confrontation. But Sherman insisted that European allies are being kept in the loop, after meeting NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and ambassadors from the NATO member states. "The United States is committed to working in lockstep with our allies and partners to urge de-escalation and respond to the security crisis caused by Russia," she tweeted. With Stoltenberg, Sherman "affirmed a unified NATO approach toward Russia, balancing deterrence and dialogue, and stressed our unwavering support for Ukraine". And, in a tweet addressed to Ukraine's deputy minister of foreign affairs Emine Dzhaparova, she assured Kiev that the allies "will not make decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine". After more than seven hours of negotiations in Geneva on Monday, the Russian and US officials both offered to keep talking, though there was no sign of a breakthrough. The high-stakes meeting came as fears simmered of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has demanded wide-ranging security concessions from Washington and its NATO allies, which in turn have threatened severe economic sanctions if there is any Russian attack. (With inputs from agencies)

US calms European allies' fears over its talks with Russia over Ukraine

Ahead of talks between Russia and NATO over Ukraine, Moscow said that a 'moment of truth' was upon everyone. The words came from Russia's&nbsp;Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko following Monday's US-Russia negotiations in Geneva. The Geneva talks have launched a week of diplomacy between Russia and the West.

The negotiations go while tens of thousands of Russian troops remain stationed along Russia-Ukraine border maintaining fears of Russian invasion against Ukraine. Though Russia claims it does not have invasion planned, it has made amply clear that it is dead against Ukraine's inclusion in the NATO. Ukraine was part of the erstwhile Soviet Union.

Moscow has demanded wide-ranging concessions from Washington and its NATO allies

A meeting of the NATO-Russia Council will take place in Brussels on Wednesday.

"It's no exaggeration to say that a moment of truth is coming in our relations with the alliance," Grushko was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

Moscow has demanded wide-ranging security guarantees from Washington and its NATO allies and insists it has been promised that NATO would not expand eastward.

"Our expectations are entirely realistic and we hope that this will be a serious, deep conversation on key, fundamental problems of European security," Grushko said, referring to the talks in Brussels.

He said Russia would demand a comprehensive response from the alliance to its demands.

"We will push for a concrete, substantive, article-by-article reaction to the Russian draft agreement on guarantees," he added.

In December, Russia unveiled proposals to contain the United States and NATO in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, saying that the US-led alliance should not admit Ukraine or Georgia as new members or establish bases in ex-Soviet countries.

After more than seven hours of negotiations in Geneva on Monday, the Russian and US officials both offered to keep talking, though there was no any breakthrough.

(With inputs from agencies)

Ahead of talks between Russia and NATO over Ukraine, Moscow said that a 'moment of truth' was upon everyone. The words came from Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko following Monday's US-Russia negotiations in Geneva.

Ahead of talks between Russia and NATO over Ukraine, Moscow said that a 'moment of truth' was upon everyone. The words came from Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko following Monday's US-Russia negotiations in Geneva. The Geneva talks have launched a week of diplomacy between Russia and the West. The negotiations go while tens of thousands of Russian troops remain stationed along Russia-Ukraine border maintaining fears of Russian invasion against Ukraine. Though Russia claims it does not have invasion planned, it has made amply clear that it is dead against Ukraine's inclusion in the NATO. Ukraine was part of the erstwhile Soviet Union. Moscow has demanded wide-ranging concessions from Washington and its NATO allies A meeting of the NATO-Russia Council will take place in Brussels on Wednesday. "It's no exaggeration to say that a moment of truth is coming in our relations with the alliance," Grushko was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. Moscow has demanded wide-ranging security guarantees from Washington and its NATO allies and insists it has been promised that NATO would not expand eastward. "Our expectations are entirely realistic and we hope that this will be a serious, deep conversation on key, fundamental problems of European security," Grushko said, referring to the talks in Brussels. He said Russia would demand a comprehensive response from the alliance to its demands. "We will push for a concrete, substantive, article-by-article reaction to the Russian draft agreement on guarantees," he added. In December, Russia unveiled proposals to contain the United States and NATO in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, saying that the US-led alliance should not admit Ukraine or Georgia as new members or establish bases in ex-Soviet countries. After more than seven hours of negotiations in Geneva on Monday, the Russian and US officials both offered to keep talking, though there was no any breakthrough. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia says talks with NATO over Ukraine are 'moment of truth'

In his latest remarks, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Russia had to choose between dialogue and confrontation.

While speaking at CNN's "State of the Union" show, he said, "There's a path of dialogue and diplomacy to try to resolve some of these differences and avoid a confrontation."

"The other path is confrontation and massive consequences for Russia if it renews its aggression on Ukraine. We are about to test the proposition about which path President Putin is prepared to take."

Speaking about the talks in Geneva, he said that a positive outcome would rely on Russia's readiness to get rid of its&nbsp;aggressive posture.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-talks-on-ukraine-blinken-says-nato-prepared-to-respond-to-russian-aggression-443219">Also read |&nbsp;Ahead of talks on Ukraine, Blinken says NATO prepared to respond to Russian aggression</a>

"So if we're actually going to make progress, we're going to have to see de-escalation, Russia pulling back from the threat that it currently poses to Ukraine," he said.

US and NATO have repeatedly voiced concerns over Russia’s plan to invade Ukraine, a charge that Kremlin denies. However, there have been various reports, citing satellite images, indicating that Russia has amassed thousands of troops near the Ukrainian borders.

Earlier, Blinked had slammed Russia for justifying its troop build near Ukrainian borders. He also said that the NATO alliance is prepared to respond forcefully to any Russian aggression.&nbsp;

“It (Moscow) claims that Ukraine is threatening Russia. That Ukraine seeks to provoke a conflict. And that the Russian troop build-up and the tanks and heavy artillery are all purely defensive. That’s like the fox saying it had to attack the henhouse because its occupants somehow pose a threat,” Blinken said.

(With inputs from agencies)

In his latest remarks, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Russia had to choose between dialogue and confrontation. While speaking at CNN's "State of the Union" show, he said, "There's a path of dialogue and diplomacy to try to resolve some of these differences and avoid a confrontation.

In his latest remarks, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Russia had to choose between dialogue and confrontation. While speaking at CNN's "State of the Union" show, he said, "There's a path of dialogue and diplomacy to try to resolve some of these differences and avoid a confrontation." "The other path is confrontation and massive consequences for Russia if it renews its aggression on Ukraine. We are about to test the proposition about which path President Putin is prepared to take." Speaking about the talks in Geneva, he said that a positive outcome would rely on Russia's readiness to get rid of its aggressive posture. Also read | Ahead of talks on Ukraine, Blinken says NATO prepared to respond to Russian aggression "So if we're actually going to make progress, we're going to have to see de-escalation, Russia pulling back from the threat that it currently poses to Ukraine," he said. US and NATO have repeatedly voiced concerns over Russia’s plan to invade Ukraine, a charge that Kremlin denies. However, there have been various reports, citing satellite images, indicating that Russia has amassed thousands of troops near the Ukrainian borders. Earlier, Blinked had slammed Russia for justifying its troop build near Ukrainian borders. He also said that the NATO alliance is prepared to respond forcefully to any Russian aggression. “It (Moscow) claims that Ukraine is threatening Russia. That Ukraine seeks to provoke a conflict. And that the Russian troop build-up and the tanks and heavy artillery are all purely defensive. That’s like the fox saying it had to attack the henhouse because its occupants somehow pose a threat,” Blinken said. (With inputs from agencies)

Ahead of talks on Ukraine, Blinken warns Russia of confrontation

President Vladimir Putin of Russia is playing a game of suspense.

When he kicked over the global chessboard late last year, amassing thousands of troops at the Ukrainian border, he sent the world into panic. An invasion seemed imminent — and beyond it loomed the threat of a new global confrontation, contested by nuclear-armed powers. Things haven’t calmed down since: A call between Mr. Putin and President Biden on Dec. 30, where the leaders traded threats, did little to take the sting out of the situation. Any incident along the Russian-Ukrainian border could bring inferno.

The Kremlin’s reasoning for the escalation is curious. It is acting in response, it maintains, to the West’s “drawing Ukraine into NATO” and NATO’s encroachment on what the Kremlin views as Russia’s area of influence. But that looks like a bluff, or even trolling. The truth is that NATO, for all its welcoming gestures, is not ready to offer Ukraine membership.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-concession-over-ukraine-in-talks-with-us-says-russia-443349">No concession over Ukraine in talks with US, says Russia</a>

So what is Mr. Putin’s endgame? The immediate aim, to be sure, is to return Ukraine to Russia’s orbit. But that’s only a brush stroke on a much bigger canvas. Mr. Putin’s design is grand: to refashion the post-Cold War settlement, in the process guaranteeing the survival of Russia’s personalized power system. And judging from the West’s awkward, anguished response so far, he might be close to getting what he wants.

In recent years, Mr. Putin has successfully revived Russia’s tradition of one-man rule by amending the Constitution, rewriting history and clamping down on the opposition. Now he seeks to provide the system with a sturdy Great Power spine, returning to Russia its global glamour. In the past decade, Mr. Putin’s Russia not only demonstrated its readiness to resume control over the former Soviet space, testing its ambitions in Georgia and Ukraine, but also left its footprints all over the world, including through meddling in Western democracies. Yet today’s standoff over Ukraine takes things to a new level.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-ready-to-talk-missiles-and-military-exercises-in-ukraine-with-russia-official-443265">US ready to talk missiles and military exercises in Ukraine with Russia: Official</a>

No longer content with upsetting the West, Mr. Putin is now trying to force it to agree to a new global dispensation, with Russia restored to eminence. It doesn’t stop there, though. Crucially, the geopolitical advance would serve to safeguard Mr. Putin’s rule. So the West, by accepting Russia’s geopolitical position, would effectively underwrite its domestic agenda, too. The United States would become, at home and abroad, Russia’s security provider. It’s quite the gambit.

The timing is crucial. With the European Union consumed by its own challenges and the United States’ rivalry with China yet to reach top gear, the Kremlin is seizing the moment to pursue its grand design. To do so, it could put on the war helmet at any moment. But confrontation is not the Kremlin’s goal. The escalation is about peace on Russia’s terms.

Right now, it’s hard to know what comes next. Mr. Putin can’t force his Western opponents to surrender; neither is he ready to retreat. But he could use both concessions and refusals to pursue his agenda. Concessions, such as NATO explicitly pledging not to expand any further east, would be presented as victories, and refusals as the pretext for further escalation. One success is already clear: The West has been forced to reward Russia — through outreach, diplomacy and, above all, attention — for the charitable act of not invading Ukraine.

Russia’s rebellion threatens to turn geopolitics into a battle of threats — force on one side, sanctions on the other. Mr. Putin’s method is tried and tested: He ratchets up the tensions and then demands “binding agreements,” which he does not take seriously. The aim, really, is a Hobbesian world order, built on disruption and readiness for surprise breakthroughs.

This order has nothing in common with those fashioned at the Yalta Conference in 1945, say, or the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Their architects followed the rules. The Kremlin is suggesting something very different: the irrelevance of rules. The norms by which the world has been governed for the past three decades would be thrown out, in favor of creative interpretation of the possible. In this free-for-all, Mr. Putin — mercurial master of suspense and the sudden move — can pursue his fusion of geopolitical power and personal rule.

Today, Ukraine is the jewel to fight for. But it won’t end there: Belarus, whose embattled leader relies on Russia’s support, could be the next prize in the geopolitical rivalry — or perhaps it will be Kazakhstan, where popular anger at the corrupt, Russian-backed regime has erupted. The drama is just beginning. Other neighboring countries could become hostages of Russia’s system of survival, which requires external domination for the sake of internal security.

So far, the Kremlin has been extremely lucky, or extraordinarily skilled, in playing a weak hand without aces up its sleeve. It deals with a Western establishment determined to maintain the status quo, even if that means accommodation. After all, the nature of globalization precludes serious containment policy: How can the West deter Russia when it is enmeshed in a web of economic and security ties with the Russian state?

Mr. Putin no doubt senses the advantage. Having dealt with the Western leaders for decades, he seems to have concluded that he can play bully. That the United States quickly agreed to start talks suggests Mr. Putin’s strategy is working: It could take months before Western partners discover that they have been engaged in an exchange of hot air.

They are clearly yet to work out how to respond to the Kremlin’s policy of suspense. By forcing the world to guess what Russia is up to and pursuing mutually contradictory policy lines simultaneously, the Kremlin keeps the West disoriented. Accustomed to functioning in rational, risk-averse ways, the West doesn’t know how to react to such “organized chaos.”

There are several traps into which Russia and the West could fall. The kind of sanctions the Biden administration is reportedly considering could be devastating for the Russian state and its elites, which are integrated into the West. And ordinary Russians are not going to sacrifice their living standards indefinitely for wars and antagonism. According to the independent Levada Center, in 2021 only 32 percent of Russians wanted to see Russia as “a great power respected and feared by other countries,” and just 16 percent thought the war could raise Mr. Putin’s authority. The patriotic drug of militarism has started to wear off.

There is a Catch-22 for the West, too: Any bargain that would allow the Kremlin to interpret the global rules of the game would undermine Western principles. Yet rejecting the bargain could incite the Kremlin to wreck the whole shop. The world’s liberal democracies are hardly ready for a clash with a nuclear opponent.

This is a deadlock, and there appears to be no way out. Both sides continue to play “who blinks first”: America and its allies have set out to reassure Ukraine of their support, while Russia has kept the hammer of military deployment ready. A meeting in Moscow on Thursday between representatives of Russia, France and Germany made little headway. Negotiations begin in earnest next week, as Russia and America — later joined by NATO members — aim to find the areas where agreement is possible and where it isn’t.

It’s a tall order. And even if such efforts manage to temporarily tamp down the situation, mutual suspicion will linger. The reason is simple: For as long as Mr. Putin holds sway, his grand design will never be far away.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia is playing a game of suspense. When he kicked over the global chessboard late last year, amassing thousands of troops at the Ukrainian border, he sent the world into panic.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia is playing a game of suspense. When he kicked over the global chessboard late last year, amassing thousands of troops at the Ukrainian border, he sent the world into panic. An invasion seemed imminent — and beyond it loomed the threat of a new global confrontation, contested by nuclear-armed powers. Things haven’t calmed down since: A call between Mr. Putin and President Biden on Dec. 30, where the leaders traded threats, did little to take the sting out of the situation. Any incident along the Russian-Ukrainian border could bring inferno. The Kremlin’s reasoning for the escalation is curious. It is acting in response, it maintains, to the West’s “drawing Ukraine into NATO” and NATO’s encroachment on what the Kremlin views as Russia’s area of influence. But that looks like a bluff, or even trolling. The truth is that NATO, for all its welcoming gestures, is not ready to offer Ukraine membership. Also Read | No concession over Ukraine in talks with US, says Russia So what is Mr. Putin’s endgame? The immediate aim, to be sure, is to return Ukraine to Russia’s orbit. But that’s only a brush stroke on a much bigger canvas. Mr. Putin’s design is grand: to refashion the post-Cold War settlement, in the process guaranteeing the survival of Russia’s personalized power system. And judging from the West’s awkward, anguished response so far, he might be close to getting what he wants. In recent years, Mr. Putin has successfully revived Russia’s tradition of one-man rule by amending the Constitution, rewriting history and clamping down on the opposition. Now he seeks to provide the system with a sturdy Great Power spine, returning to Russia its global glamour. In the past decade, Mr. Putin’s Russia not only demonstrated its readiness to resume control over the former Soviet space, testing its ambitions in Georgia and Ukraine, but also left its footprints all over the world, including through meddling in Western democracies. Yet today’s standoff over Ukraine takes things to a new level. Also Read | US ready to talk missiles and military exercises in Ukraine with Russia: Official No longer content with upsetting the West, Mr. Putin is now trying to force it to agree to a new global dispensation, with Russia restored to eminence. It doesn’t stop there, though. Crucially, the geopolitical advance would serve to safeguard Mr. Putin’s rule. So the West, by accepting Russia’s geopolitical position, would effectively underwrite its domestic agenda, too. The United States would become, at home and abroad, Russia’s security provider. It’s quite the gambit. The timing is crucial. With the European Union consumed by its own challenges and the United States’ rivalry with China yet to reach top gear, the Kremlin is seizing the moment to pursue its grand design. To do so, it could put on the war helmet at any moment. But confrontation is not the Kremlin’s goal. The escalation is about peace on Russia’s terms. Right now, it’s hard to know what comes next. Mr. Putin can’t force his Western opponents to surrender; neither is he ready to retreat. But he could use both concessions and refusals to pursue his agenda. Concessions, such as NATO explicitly pledging not to expand any further east, would be presented as victories, and refusals as the pretext for further escalation. One success is already clear: The West has been forced to reward Russia — through outreach, diplomacy and, above all, attention — for the charitable act of not invading Ukraine. Russia’s rebellion threatens to turn geopolitics into a battle of threats — force on one side, sanctions on the other. Mr. Putin’s method is tried and tested: He ratchets up the tensions and then demands “binding agreements,” which he does not take seriously. The aim, really, is a Hobbesian world order, built on disruption and readiness for surprise breakthroughs. This order has nothing in common with those fashioned at the Yalta Conference in 1945, say, or the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Their architects followed the rules. The Kremlin is suggesting something very different: the irrelevance of rules. The norms by which the world has been governed for the past three decades would be thrown out, in favor of creative interpretation of the possible. In this free-for-all, Mr. Putin — mercurial master of suspense and the sudden move — can pursue his fusion of geopolitical power and personal rule. Today, Ukraine is the jewel to fight for. But it won’t end there: Belarus, whose embattled leader relies on Russia’s support, could be the next prize in the geopolitical rivalry — or perhaps it will be Kazakhstan, where popular anger at the corrupt, Russian-backed regime has erupted. The drama is just beginning. Other neighboring countries could become hostages of Russia’s system of survival, which requires external domination for the sake of internal security. So far, the Kremlin has been extremely lucky, or extraordinarily skilled, in playing a weak hand without aces up its sleeve. It deals with a Western establishment determined to maintain the status quo, even if that means accommodation. After all, the nature of globalization precludes serious containment policy: How can the West deter Russia when it is enmeshed in a web of economic and security ties with the Russian state? Mr. Putin no doubt senses the advantage. Having dealt with the Western leaders for decades, he seems to have concluded that he can play bully. That the United States quickly agreed to start talks suggests Mr. Putin’s strategy is working: It could take months before Western partners discover that they have been engaged in an exchange of hot air. They are clearly yet to work out how to respond to the Kremlin’s policy of suspense. By forcing the world to guess what Russia is up to and pursuing mutually contradictory policy lines simultaneously, the Kremlin keeps the West disoriented. Accustomed to functioning in rational, risk-averse ways, the West doesn’t know how to react to such “organized chaos.” There are several traps into which Russia and the West could fall. The kind of sanctions the Biden administration is reportedly considering could be devastating for the Russian state and its elites, which are integrated into the West. And ordinary Russians are not going to sacrifice their living standards indefinitely for wars and antagonism. According to the independent Levada Center, in 2021 only 32 percent of Russians wanted to see Russia as “a great power respected and feared by other countries,” and just 16 percent thought the war could raise Mr. Putin’s authority. The patriotic drug of militarism has started to wear off. There is a Catch-22 for the West, too: Any bargain that would allow the Kremlin to interpret the global rules of the game would undermine Western principles. Yet rejecting the bargain could incite the Kremlin to wreck the whole shop. The world’s liberal democracies are hardly ready for a clash with a nuclear opponent. This is a deadlock, and there appears to be no way out. Both sides continue to play “who blinks first”: America and its allies have set out to reassure Ukraine of their support, while Russia has kept the hammer of military deployment ready. A meeting in Moscow on Thursday between representatives of Russia, France and Germany made little headway. Negotiations begin in earnest next week, as Russia and America — later joined by NATO members — aim to find the areas where agreement is possible and where it isn’t. It’s a tall order. And even if such efforts manage to temporarily tamp down the situation, mutual suspicion will linger. The reason is simple: For as long as Mr. Putin holds sway, his grand design will never be far away.

Ukraine is only one small part of Putin’s plans

Russia on Sunday ruled out any concession over Ukraine during talks with the US in Geneva. Tens of thousands of Russian troops continue to be stationed along the Russia-Ukraine border. Russia is facing massive international pressure to pull back troops.

Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian news agencies ahead of his talks in Geneva the Kremlin was also "disappointed" with signals coming from both Washington and Brussels, where NATO and the European Union are based.

"We will not agree to any concession. That is completely excluded," Ryabkov said. "We are disappointed with the signals coming in the last few days from Washington but also from Brussels."

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-ready-to-talk-missiles-and-military-exercises-in-ukraine-with-russia-official-443265">US ready to talk missiles and military exercises in Ukraine with Russia: Official</a>

The high-level discussions start a week of diplomacy in which Russia will meet with NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), with the US trying to assure European allies they will not be sidelined.

Russia is dead against Ukraine (formerly part of Soviet Russia) joining the NATO while Ukraine is pushing for its inclusion in the grouping. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already made it clear that Ukraine's inclusion in NATO is unacceptable.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/ukraine-is-only-one-small-part-of-putins-plans-443354">Ukraine is only one small part of Putin’s plans</a>

The United States, to be represented by Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, agreed to talks even though it made plain that many of Moscow's proposals are non-starters.&nbsp;

Originally scheduled to start on Monday, Sherman is now due to have a working dinner with Ryabkov on Sunday evening, said a State Department spokesperson.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, dismissing Moscow's demands as "gaslighting", has insisted that talks will yield no progress so long as Russia has a "gun to Ukraine's head".

"We're prepared to respond forcefully to further Russian aggression. But a diplomatic solution is still possible and preferable if Russia chooses it," Blinken said on Friday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met his US counterpart Joe Biden in Geneva in June and agreed on regular "stability" talks between Sherman and Ryabkov, who will again lead the Russian delegation.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia on Sunday ruled out any concession over Ukraine during talks with the US in Geneva. Tens of thousands of Russian troops continue to be stationed along the Russia-Ukraine border.

Russia on Sunday ruled out any concession over Ukraine during talks with the US in Geneva. Tens of thousands of Russian troops continue to be stationed along the Russia-Ukraine border. Russia is facing massive international pressure to pull back troops. Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian news agencies ahead of his talks in Geneva the Kremlin was also "disappointed" with signals coming from both Washington and Brussels, where NATO and the European Union are based. "We will not agree to any concession. That is completely excluded," Ryabkov said. "We are disappointed with the signals coming in the last few days from Washington but also from Brussels." Also Read | US ready to talk missiles and military exercises in Ukraine with Russia: Official The high-level discussions start a week of diplomacy in which Russia will meet with NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), with the US trying to assure European allies they will not be sidelined. Russia is dead against Ukraine (formerly part of Soviet Russia) joining the NATO while Ukraine is pushing for its inclusion in the grouping. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already made it clear that Ukraine's inclusion in NATO is unacceptable. Also Read | Ukraine is only one small part of Putin’s plans The United States, to be represented by Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, agreed to talks even though it made plain that many of Moscow's proposals are non-starters. Originally scheduled to start on Monday, Sherman is now due to have a working dinner with Ryabkov on Sunday evening, said a State Department spokesperson. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, dismissing Moscow's demands as "gaslighting", has insisted that talks will yield no progress so long as Russia has a "gun to Ukraine's head". "We're prepared to respond forcefully to further Russian aggression. But a diplomatic solution is still possible and preferable if Russia chooses it," Blinken said on Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin met his US counterpart Joe Biden in Geneva in June and agreed on regular "stability" talks between Sherman and Ryabkov, who will again lead the Russian delegation. (With inputs from agencies)

No concession over Ukraine in talks with US, says Russia

The Biden administration and its allies are assembling a punishing set of financial, technology and military sanctions against Russia that they say would go into effect within hours of an invasion of Ukraine, hoping to make clear to President Vladimir Putin the high cost he would pay if he sends troops across the border.

In interviews, officials described details of those plans for the first time, just before a series of diplomatic negotiations to defuse the crisis with Moscow, one of the most perilous moments in Europe since the end of the Cold War. The talks begin Monday in Geneva and then move across Europe.

The plans the United States has discussed with allies in recent days include cutting off Russia’s largest financial institutions from global transactions, imposing an embargo on American-made or American-designed technology needed for defense-related and consumer industries, and arming insurgents in Ukraine who would conduct what would amount to a guerrilla war against a Russian military occupation, if it comes to that.

Such moves are rarely telegraphed in advance. But with the negotiations looming — and the fate of Europe’s post-Cold War borders and NATO’s military presence on the continent at stake — President Joe Biden’s advisers say they are trying to signal to Putin exactly what he would face, at home and abroad, in hopes of influencing his decisions in coming weeks.

The talks Monday will be led by the deputy secretary of state, Wendy Sherman, an experienced diplomat who negotiated the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran. Russian officials are expected to press their demands for “security guarantees,” including prohibiting the deployment of any missiles in Europe that could strike Russia and the placement of weaponry or troops in former Soviet states that joined NATO after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Putin is also demanding an end to NATO expansion, including a promise that Ukraine could never join the nuclear alliance. While the Biden administration has said it is willing to discuss all Russian security concerns — and has a long list of its own — the demands amount to a dismantling of the security architecture of Europe built after the Soviet Union’s collapse.

On Wednesday, members of the NATO alliance will meet with Russia in Brussels. The next day in Vienna, Ukrainian officials will also be at the table, for the first time, for talks at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. But with 57 members, that group is so large that few expect serious negotiations.

U.S. diplomats worry that after the whirlwind week, the Russians could declare that their security concerns are not being met — and use the failure of talks as a justification for military action. “No one should be surprised if Russia instigates a provocation or incident,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday, and “then tries to use it to justify military intervention, hoping that by the time the world realizes the ruse, it’ll be too late.”

This time, he said, “we’ve been clear with Russia about what it will face if it continues on this path, including economic measures that we haven’t used before — massive consequences.”

That warning, however, is an unspoken acknowledgment that the Obama administration’s response in 2014, when Putin last invaded parts of Ukraine, was too tentative and mild. At that time, Putin surprised the world by annexing Crimea and fueling a grinding proxy war in eastern Ukraine. Now, U.S. officials say they are trying to learn from their past mistakes.

An internal review of those actions, conducted by the White House in recent weeks, concluded that while Obama-era sanctions damaged Russia’s economy and led to a sell-off of its currency, they failed at their central strategic objective: to cause so much pain that Putin would be forced to withdraw. Nearly eight years later, Russia still holds Crimea and has ignored most of the diplomatic commitments it made in the negotiations that followed, known as the Minsk accords.

Those sanctions started with actions against some smaller Russian banks and individuals directly involved in the invasion. Virtually all of the sanctions — and additional measures imposed after Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and after the SolarWinds cyberattack in 2020 that sabotaged computer programs used by the federal government and American companies — remain in place. But there is scant evidence that they have deterred Putin, who began building up forces near the Ukrainian border just as Biden announced his response to SolarWinds this past spring.

When asked recently whether he could point to any evidence that the Russians were deterred by recent sanctions, a senior aide to Biden paused a moment and then said, “No, none.”

Rather than start with moves against small banks and on-the-ground military commanders, officials said, the new sanctions would be directed at cutting off the largest Russian financial institutions that depend on global financial transfers. The plan was described by one official as a “high-impact, quick-action response that we did not pursue in 2014.”

The officials declined to say whether the United States was prepared to cut Russia off from the SWIFT system, which executes global financial transactions among more than 1,100 banks in 200 countries. But European officials say they have discussed that possibility — something most major European powers had declined to consider until recently, for fear that Russia might retaliate by attempting to cut off gas and oil flows in the winter, even briefly.

The SWIFT cutoff has been used against Iran with some success. But Cynthia Roberts, a professor of political science at Hunter College in New York, noted that Russia had learned a lot about “global sanctions-proofing,” and she expressed doubt that the country would suffer as much as U.S. officials contend if it were disconnected from SWIFT.

“They would definitely take a big hit,” she said at a seminar held this past week by the Center for the National Interest. But she noted that Russia had stockpiled hundreds of billions in gold and dollar reserves and that the Bank of China had joined Russia’s own domestic version of SWIFT. That raises the possibility that Russia and China, as part of their expanding partnership, might join forces to help Moscow evade the West’s action.

The bottom line, she said, is that “sanctions have a very poor coercive track record.”

The technology sanctions would target some of Putin’s favored industries — particularly aerospace and arms, which are major producers of revenue for the Russian government. The focus would be on Russian-built fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft systems, anti-satellite systems, space systems and emerging technologies where Russia is hoping to make gains, like artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

Similar export controls have been surprisingly effective against China’s leading producer of cellphones, Huawei, which for a while was among the top providers of smartphones to the world. That part of its business has all but collapsed in the past year because it cannot obtain advanced chips. But the Russian economy bears little resemblance to China’s, and it is not clear that it is equally vulnerable to an embargo of semiconductors and other microelectronics that are critical to Chinese manufacturing.

There are other options under consideration that go well beyond merely banning the sale of computer chips. In one additional step, according to U.S. officials, the Commerce Department could issue a ruling that would essentially ban the export of any consumer goods to Russia — from cellphones and laptop computers to refrigerators and washing machines — that contain American-made or American-designed electronics. That would apply not only to American makers, but also to European, South Korean and other foreign manufacturers that use American chips or software.

Unlike China, Russia does not make many of these products — and the effects on consumers could be broad.

But a senior European official said there was still a debate about whether the Russian people would blame Putin, or the United States and its allies, for their inability to buy the goods.

While the Commerce and Treasury departments work on sanctions that would maximize America’s advantages over Russia, the Pentagon is developing plans that have echoes of the proxy wars of the 1960s and ’70s.

To underscore the potential pain for Russia, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, spoke with his Russian counterpart two weeks ago and delivered a stark message: Yes, he said, you could invade Ukraine and probably roll over the Ukrainian military, which stands little chance of repelling a far larger, better armed Russian force.

But the swift victory would be followed, Milley told Gen. Valery Gerasimov, by a bloody insurgency, similar to the one that led to the Soviet retreat from Afghanistan more than three decades ago, according to officials familiar with the discussion.

Milley did not detail to Gerasimov the planning underway in Washington to support an insurgency, a so-called porcupine strategy to make invading Ukraine hard for the Russians to swallow. That includes the advance positioning of arms for Ukrainian insurgents, probably including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, that could be used against Russian forces.

More than a month ago, Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, created a new interagency planning cell to examine a range of contingencies if Putin goes ahead with an invasion. The cell, which reports directly to Sullivan, includes representatives from the National Security Council, the intelligence agencies and the departments of Defense, State, Treasury, Energy and Homeland Security.

The cell is attempting to tailor responses to the many types of attacks that could unfold in the next few weeks, from cyberattacks aimed at crippling Ukraine’s electric grid and pipelines to the seizure of small or large amounts of territory.

Intelligence officials said recently that they thought the least likely possibility was a full-scale invasion in which the Russians try to take the capital, Kyiv. Many of the assessments, however, have explored more incremental moves by Putin, which could include seizing a bit more land in the Donbas region, where war has ground into a stalemate, or a land bridge to Crimea.

Several officials familiar with the planning say the administration is looking at European nations that could provide more aid to support Ukrainian forces before any conflict, as well as in the initial stages of a Russian invasion.

Lt. Col. Anton Semelroth, a Defense Department spokesperson, noted in December that the United States had already committed more than $2.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014, including $450 million in 2021 alone. Over the past three months, it has delivered 180 Javelin missiles, two patrol boats, ammunition for grenade launchers, machine guns, secure radios, medical equipment and other items that U.S. officials describe as defensive in nature.

But the planning cell is considering more lethal weaponry, such as anti-aircraft weapons.

After visiting Ukraine last month, Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., a former Marine officer, said that in his view, “We need to make any incursion by Russia more painful — Day 1 painful, not six months from now painful.

“We have a short window to take decisive action to deter Putin from a serious invasion,” Moulton said. “I worry our current deterrent tactics are responding to an invasion rather than preventing it.”

One option likely to be discussed at NATO this coming week is a plan to increase, possibly by several thousand, the number of troops stationed in the Baltics and in southeast Europe.

On Friday, Blinken again warned that if the Russians invade, NATO would deploy more forces along the borders between NATO nations and Russian-controlled territory.

The Biden administration and its allies are assembling a punishing set of financial, technology and military sanctions against Russia that they say would go into effect within hours of an invasion of Ukraine, hoping to make clear to President Vladimir Putin the high cost he would pay if he sends troops across the border.

The Biden administration and its allies are assembling a punishing set of financial, technology and military sanctions against Russia that they say would go into effect within hours of an invasion of Ukraine, hoping to make clear to President Vladimir Putin the high cost he would pay if he sends troops across the border. In interviews, officials described details of those plans for the first time, just before a series of diplomatic negotiations to defuse the crisis with Moscow, one of the most perilous moments in Europe since the end of the Cold War. The talks begin Monday in Geneva and then move across Europe. The plans the United States has discussed with allies in recent days include cutting off Russia’s largest financial institutions from global transactions, imposing an embargo on American-made or American-designed technology needed for defense-related and consumer industries, and arming insurgents in Ukraine who would conduct what would amount to a guerrilla war against a Russian military occupation, if it comes to that. Such moves are rarely telegraphed in advance. But with the negotiations looming — and the fate of Europe’s post-Cold War borders and NATO’s military presence on the continent at stake — President Joe Biden’s advisers say they are trying to signal to Putin exactly what he would face, at home and abroad, in hopes of influencing his decisions in coming weeks. The talks Monday will be led by the deputy secretary of state, Wendy Sherman, an experienced diplomat who negotiated the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran. Russian officials are expected to press their demands for “security guarantees,” including prohibiting the deployment of any missiles in Europe that could strike Russia and the placement of weaponry or troops in former Soviet states that joined NATO after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Putin is also demanding an end to NATO expansion, including a promise that Ukraine could never join the nuclear alliance. While the Biden administration has said it is willing to discuss all Russian security concerns — and has a long list of its own — the demands amount to a dismantling of the security architecture of Europe built after the Soviet Union’s collapse. On Wednesday, members of the NATO alliance will meet with Russia in Brussels. The next day in Vienna, Ukrainian officials will also be at the table, for the first time, for talks at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. But with 57 members, that group is so large that few expect serious negotiations. U.S. diplomats worry that after the whirlwind week, the Russians could declare that their security concerns are not being met — and use the failure of talks as a justification for military action. “No one should be surprised if Russia instigates a provocation or incident,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday, and “then tries to use it to justify military intervention, hoping that by the time the world realizes the ruse, it’ll be too late.” This time, he said, “we’ve been clear with Russia about what it will face if it continues on this path, including economic measures that we haven’t used before — massive consequences.” That warning, however, is an unspoken acknowledgment that the Obama administration’s response in 2014, when Putin last invaded parts of Ukraine, was too tentative and mild. At that time, Putin surprised the world by annexing Crimea and fueling a grinding proxy war in eastern Ukraine. Now, U.S. officials say they are trying to learn from their past mistakes. An internal review of those actions, conducted by the White House in recent weeks, concluded that while Obama-era sanctions damaged Russia’s economy and led to a sell-off of its currency, they failed at their central strategic objective: to cause so much pain that Putin would be forced to withdraw. Nearly eight years later, Russia still holds Crimea and has ignored most of the diplomatic commitments it made in the negotiations that followed, known as the Minsk accords. Those sanctions started with actions against some smaller Russian banks and individuals directly involved in the invasion. Virtually all of the sanctions — and additional measures imposed after Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and after the SolarWinds cyberattack in 2020 that sabotaged computer programs used by the federal government and American companies — remain in place. But there is scant evidence that they have deterred Putin, who began building up forces near the Ukrainian border just as Biden announced his response to SolarWinds this past spring. When asked recently whether he could point to any evidence that the Russians were deterred by recent sanctions, a senior aide to Biden paused a moment and then said, “No, none.” Rather than start with moves against small banks and on-the-ground military commanders, officials said, the new sanctions would be directed at cutting off the largest Russian financial institutions that depend on global financial transfers. The plan was described by one official as a “high-impact, quick-action response that we did not pursue in 2014.” The officials declined to say whether the United States was prepared to cut Russia off from the SWIFT system, which executes global financial transactions among more than 1,100 banks in 200 countries. But European officials say they have discussed that possibility — something most major European powers had declined to consider until recently, for fear that Russia might retaliate by attempting to cut off gas and oil flows in the winter, even briefly. The SWIFT cutoff has been used against Iran with some success. But Cynthia Roberts, a professor of political science at Hunter College in New York, noted that Russia had learned a lot about “global sanctions-proofing,” and she expressed doubt that the country would suffer as much as U.S. officials contend if it were disconnected from SWIFT. “They would definitely take a big hit,” she said at a seminar held this past week by the Center for the National Interest. But she noted that Russia had stockpiled hundreds of billions in gold and dollar reserves and that the Bank of China had joined Russia’s own domestic version of SWIFT. That raises the possibility that Russia and China, as part of their expanding partnership, might join forces to help Moscow evade the West’s action. The bottom line, she said, is that “sanctions have a very poor coercive track record.” The technology sanctions would target some of Putin’s favored industries — particularly aerospace and arms, which are major producers of revenue for the Russian government. The focus would be on Russian-built fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft systems, anti-satellite systems, space systems and emerging technologies where Russia is hoping to make gains, like artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Similar export controls have been surprisingly effective against China’s leading producer of cellphones, Huawei, which for a while was among the top providers of smartphones to the world. That part of its business has all but collapsed in the past year because it cannot obtain advanced chips. But the Russian economy bears little resemblance to China’s, and it is not clear that it is equally vulnerable to an embargo of semiconductors and other microelectronics that are critical to Chinese manufacturing. There are other options under consideration that go well beyond merely banning the sale of computer chips. In one additional step, according to U.S. officials, the Commerce Department could issue a ruling that would essentially ban the export of any consumer goods to Russia — from cellphones and laptop computers to refrigerators and washing machines — that contain American-made or American-designed electronics. That would apply not only to American makers, but also to European, South Korean and other foreign manufacturers that use American chips or software. Unlike China, Russia does not make many of these products — and the effects on consumers could be broad. But a senior European official said there was still a debate about whether the Russian people would blame Putin, or the United States and its allies, for their inability to buy the goods. While the Commerce and Treasury departments work on sanctions that would maximize America’s advantages over Russia, the Pentagon is developing plans that have echoes of the proxy wars of the 1960s and ’70s. To underscore the potential pain for Russia, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, spoke with his Russian counterpart two weeks ago and delivered a stark message: Yes, he said, you could invade Ukraine and probably roll over the Ukrainian military, which stands little chance of repelling a far larger, better armed Russian force. But the swift victory would be followed, Milley told Gen. Valery Gerasimov, by a bloody insurgency, similar to the one that led to the Soviet retreat from Afghanistan more than three decades ago, according to officials familiar with the discussion. Milley did not detail to Gerasimov the planning underway in Washington to support an insurgency, a so-called porcupine strategy to make invading Ukraine hard for the Russians to swallow. That includes the advance positioning of arms for Ukrainian insurgents, probably including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, that could be used against Russian forces. More than a month ago, Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, created a new interagency planning cell to examine a range of contingencies if Putin goes ahead with an invasion. The cell, which reports directly to Sullivan, includes representatives from the National Security Council, the intelligence agencies and the departments of Defense, State, Treasury, Energy and Homeland Security. The cell is attempting to tailor responses to the many types of attacks that could unfold in the next few weeks, from cyberattacks aimed at crippling Ukraine’s electric grid and pipelines to the seizure of small or large amounts of territory. Intelligence officials said recently that they thought the least likely possibility was a full-scale invasion in which the Russians try to take the capital, Kyiv. Many of the assessments, however, have explored more incremental moves by Putin, which could include seizing a bit more land in the Donbas region, where war has ground into a stalemate, or a land bridge to Crimea. Several officials familiar with the planning say the administration is looking at European nations that could provide more aid to support Ukrainian forces before any conflict, as well as in the initial stages of a Russian invasion. Lt. Col. Anton Semelroth, a Defense Department spokesperson, noted in December that the United States had already committed more than $2.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014, including $450 million in 2021 alone. Over the past three months, it has delivered 180 Javelin missiles, two patrol boats, ammunition for grenade launchers, machine guns, secure radios, medical equipment and other items that U.S. officials describe as defensive in nature. But the planning cell is considering more lethal weaponry, such as anti-aircraft weapons. After visiting Ukraine last month, Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., a former Marine officer, said that in his view, “We need to make any incursion by Russia more painful — Day 1 painful, not six months from now painful. “We have a short window to take decisive action to deter Putin from a serious invasion,” Moulton said. “I worry our current deterrent tactics are responding to an invasion rather than preventing it.” One option likely to be discussed at NATO this coming week is a plan to increase, possibly by several thousand, the number of troops stationed in the Baltics and in southeast Europe. On Friday, Blinken again warned that if the Russians invade, NATO would deploy more forces along the borders between NATO nations and Russian-controlled territory.

US details costs of a Russian invasion of Ukraine

For years, US&nbsp;officials have tiptoed around the question of how much military support to provide to Ukraine, for fear of provoking Russia.

Now, in what would be a major turnaround, senior Biden administration officials are warning that the United States could throw its weight behind a Ukrainian insurgency should President Vladimir Putin of Russia invade Ukraine.

How the United States, which just exited two decades of war in Afghanistan, might pivot to funding and supporting an insurgency from fighting one is still being worked out. But even a conversation about how far the United States would go to subvert Russian aims in the event of an invasion has revived the spectre of a new Cold War and suddenly made real the prospect of the beginnings of a so-called great power conflict.

In Afghanistan, the United States showed itself to be dismal at fighting insurgencies. But when it comes to funding them, military experts say it is a different ballgame.

President Joe Biden has not determined how the United States might arm insurgents in Ukraine who would conduct what would amount to a guerrilla war against Russian military occupation. Nor is it clear what Russia’s next move might be, or whether Putin intends to launch a cyberattack. On Friday, hackers brought down several Ukrainian government websites after days of talks between Russia and the West about the crisis.

But Biden administration officials have begun signalling to Russia, which has massed about 100,000 troops at its borders with Ukraine, that even if it managed to swiftly capture territory, Putin would eventually find the costs of an invasion prohibitively expensive in terms of military losses.

“If Putin invades Ukraine with a major military force, US&nbsp;and NATO military assistance — intelligence, cyber, anti-armour and anti-air weapons, offensive naval missiles — would ratchet up significantly,” said James Stavridis, a retired four-star Navy admiral who was the supreme allied commander at NATO. “And if it turned into a Ukrainian insurgency, Putin should realize that after fighting insurgencies ourselves for two decades, we know how to arm, train and energize them.”

He pointed to U.S. support for the mujahedeen in Afghanistan against the Soviet invasion there in the late 1970s and 1980s, before the rise of the Taliban. “The level of military support” for a Ukrainian insurgence, Stavridis said, “would make our efforts in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union look puny by comparison.”

Both Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have warned their Russian counterparts in recent telephone calls that any swift Russian victory in Ukraine would probably be followed by a bloody insurgency similar to the one that drove the Soviet Union from Afghanistan. In discussions with allies, senior Biden officials have also made clear that the CIA (covertly) and the Pentagon (overtly) would both seek to help any Ukrainian insurgency.

Administration officials interviewed this week said that plans to help Ukrainian insurgents could include providing training in nearby countries that are part of NATO’s eastern flank: Poland, Romania and Slovakia, which could enable insurgents to slip in and out of Ukraine. Beyond logistical support and weapons, the United States and NATO allies could also provide medical equipment, services and even sanctuary during Russian offensives. The United States would almost certainly supply weapons, the officials said.

Since Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, successive US&nbsp;administrations have taken pains to limit military support to Ukraine largely to defensive weaponry. The United States has provided about $2.5 billion in military aid to Kyiv, including anti-tank missiles and radar that enables the Ukrainian military to better spot sources of artillery fire. The assistance has also included patrol boats and communications equipment.

The United States is also moving toward providing Ukraine with battlefield intelligence that could help the country more quickly respond to an invasion, senior administration officials said.

But all of that aid has been calibrated not to provoke Putin, officials said. If Russian troops crossed the border, the officials said, the United States could offer offensive weaponry and training.

“Given the right equipment and tactics, Ukraine can dramatically reduce the chances of a successful invasion,” a former Ukrainian defence minister, Andriy Zagorodnyuk, wrote in an op-ed for the Atlantic Council on Sunday that reads like an instructional manual for how the United States can support an insurgency. “By combining serving military units with combat veterans, reservists, territorial defence units and large numbers of volunteers, Ukraine can create tens of thousands of small and highly mobile groups capable of attacking Russian forces. This will make it virtually impossible for the Kremlin to establish any kind of administration over occupied areas or secure its lines of supply.”

But it is difficult to know whether Ukrainians would be willing to start an insurgency campaign that could drag on for years or even decades. Some Ukraine experts point to Crimea, where there has been little armed resistance since Russia invaded. And Putin could limit his siege to the eastern parts of Ukraine, which lean more pro-Russian than the West.

A Western military adviser to the Ukrainians said that details of a specific resistance there remained a closely held secret. But already, particularly in the West, Ukrainians are joining territorial defence forces that train in guerrilla tactics.

The Biden administration and its NATO allies want to capitalize on any distaste the Russian body politic might have for troop casualties, U.S. and European officials said in interviews. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss planning.

Funding and supporting an insurgency is difficult, defence planners and military experts said. It requires developing a long-game mindset and keeping up morale among fighters in the face of a state-sanctioned enemy that is backed by heavy weaponry.

Russian retaliation against Ukrainian insurgents is likely to be “swift, direct and very brutal,” said Seth G. Jones, director of the international security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “It’s likely to get bloody.”

Jones also suggested that Russia might start to build some type of wall along Ukraine’s borders with NATO countries, putting a new Iron Curtain in place.

But Evelyn Farkas, who was the deputy assistant secretary of defence for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia in the Obama administration, when Russia invaded Crimea, recalled a debate at the time about how tough the United States could be with Russia without provoking further action. Eight years later, she noted that Putin is still threatening the country’s sovereignty.

She said that this time around, “I think the gloves should come off.”

For years, US officials have tiptoed around the question of how much military support to provide to Ukraine, for fear of provoking Russia. Now, in what would be a major turnaround, senior Biden administration officials are warning that the United States could throw its weight behind a Ukrainian insurgency should President Vladimir Putin of Russia invade Ukraine.

For years, US officials have tiptoed around the question of how much military support to provide to Ukraine, for fear of provoking Russia. Now, in what would be a major turnaround, senior Biden administration officials are warning that the United States could throw its weight behind a Ukrainian insurgency should President Vladimir Putin of Russia invade Ukraine. How the United States, which just exited two decades of war in Afghanistan, might pivot to funding and supporting an insurgency from fighting one is still being worked out. But even a conversation about how far the United States would go to subvert Russian aims in the event of an invasion has revived the spectre of a new Cold War and suddenly made real the prospect of the beginnings of a so-called great power conflict. In Afghanistan, the United States showed itself to be dismal at fighting insurgencies. But when it comes to funding them, military experts say it is a different ballgame. President Joe Biden has not determined how the United States might arm insurgents in Ukraine who would conduct what would amount to a guerrilla war against Russian military occupation. Nor is it clear what Russia’s next move might be, or whether Putin intends to launch a cyberattack. On Friday, hackers brought down several Ukrainian government websites after days of talks between Russia and the West about the crisis. But Biden administration officials have begun signalling to Russia, which has massed about 100,000 troops at its borders with Ukraine, that even if it managed to swiftly capture territory, Putin would eventually find the costs of an invasion prohibitively expensive in terms of military losses. “If Putin invades Ukraine with a major military force, US and NATO military assistance — intelligence, cyber, anti-armour and anti-air weapons, offensive naval missiles — would ratchet up significantly,” said James Stavridis, a retired four-star Navy admiral who was the supreme allied commander at NATO. “And if it turned into a Ukrainian insurgency, Putin should realize that after fighting insurgencies ourselves for two decades, we know how to arm, train and energize them.” He pointed to U.S. support for the mujahedeen in Afghanistan against the Soviet invasion there in the late 1970s and 1980s, before the rise of the Taliban. “The level of military support” for a Ukrainian insurgence, Stavridis said, “would make our efforts in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union look puny by comparison.” Both Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have warned their Russian counterparts in recent telephone calls that any swift Russian victory in Ukraine would probably be followed by a bloody insurgency similar to the one that drove the Soviet Union from Afghanistan. In discussions with allies, senior Biden officials have also made clear that the CIA (covertly) and the Pentagon (overtly) would both seek to help any Ukrainian insurgency. Administration officials interviewed this week said that plans to help Ukrainian insurgents could include providing training in nearby countries that are part of NATO’s eastern flank: Poland, Romania and Slovakia, which could enable insurgents to slip in and out of Ukraine. Beyond logistical support and weapons, the United States and NATO allies could also provide medical equipment, services and even sanctuary during Russian offensives. The United States would almost certainly supply weapons, the officials said. Since Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, successive US administrations have taken pains to limit military support to Ukraine largely to defensive weaponry. The United States has provided about $2.5 billion in military aid to Kyiv, including anti-tank missiles and radar that enables the Ukrainian military to better spot sources of artillery fire. The assistance has also included patrol boats and communications equipment. The United States is also moving toward providing Ukraine with battlefield intelligence that could help the country more quickly respond to an invasion, senior administration officials said. But all of that aid has been calibrated not to provoke Putin, officials said. If Russian troops crossed the border, the officials said, the United States could offer offensive weaponry and training. “Given the right equipment and tactics, Ukraine can dramatically reduce the chances of a successful invasion,” a former Ukrainian defence minister, Andriy Zagorodnyuk, wrote in an op-ed for the Atlantic Council on Sunday that reads like an instructional manual for how the United States can support an insurgency. “By combining serving military units with combat veterans, reservists, territorial defence units and large numbers of volunteers, Ukraine can create tens of thousands of small and highly mobile groups capable of attacking Russian forces. This will make it virtually impossible for the Kremlin to establish any kind of administration over occupied areas or secure its lines of supply.” But it is difficult to know whether Ukrainians would be willing to start an insurgency campaign that could drag on for years or even decades. Some Ukraine experts point to Crimea, where there has been little armed resistance since Russia invaded. And Putin could limit his siege to the eastern parts of Ukraine, which lean more pro-Russian than the West. A Western military adviser to the Ukrainians said that details of a specific resistance there remained a closely held secret. But already, particularly in the West, Ukrainians are joining territorial defence forces that train in guerrilla tactics. The Biden administration and its NATO allies want to capitalize on any distaste the Russian body politic might have for troop casualties, U.S. and European officials said in interviews. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss planning. Funding and supporting an insurgency is difficult, defence planners and military experts said. It requires developing a long-game mindset and keeping up morale among fighters in the face of a state-sanctioned enemy that is backed by heavy weaponry. Russian retaliation against Ukrainian insurgents is likely to be “swift, direct and very brutal,” said Seth G. Jones, director of the international security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “It’s likely to get bloody.” Jones also suggested that Russia might start to build some type of wall along Ukraine’s borders with NATO countries, putting a new Iron Curtain in place. But Evelyn Farkas, who was the deputy assistant secretary of defence for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia in the Obama administration, when Russia invaded Crimea, recalled a debate at the time about how tough the United States could be with Russia without provoking further action. Eight years later, she noted that Putin is still threatening the country’s sovereignty. She said that this time around, “I think the gloves should come off.”

US considers backing an insurgency if Russia invades Ukraine

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has slammed Russia for justifying its troop build near Ukrainian borders by pushing a “false narrative” that it is being threatened by NATO.

He also said that the NATO alliance is prepared to respond forcefully to any Russian aggression.

Blinken made the comments while addressing reporters at the State Department ahead of the meet between diplomats of US and Russian in Europe next week aimed at bringing down the temperature between Russia and the West.

“It (Moscow) claims that Ukraine is threatening Russia. That Ukraine seeks to provoke a conflict. And that the Russian troop build-up and the tanks and heavy artillery are all purely defensive. That’s like the fox saying it had to attack the henhouse because its occupants somehow pose a threat,” Blinken said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-officials-release-footage-where-man-bursts-into-flames-on-being-tased-by-police-after-using-sanitizer-443052">Also Read |&nbsp;US discussed shipping Stinger missiles to Ukraine: Report</a>

He reminded that Russian had attacked Ukraine in 2014, by blaming Kyiv to be the aggressor and said that Moscow was “simultaneously driving the false narrative that NATO is threatening Russia.”

Blinken alleged that for years, Russia had been working to Ukraine's democratic institutions, interfere in its politics, block energy and commerce and sow mistrust with propaganda and disinformation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-demand-that-we-never-become-nato-member-illegitimate-ukraine-foreign-minister-to-wion-443079">Russian demand that we never become NATO member illegitimate: Ukraine foreign minister to WION</a>

But he sounded optimistic by saying that a diplomatic solution was still possible to achieve a breakthrough in the current scheme of things.

“Next week we’ll reconfirm our readiness to increase transparency, institute new risk-reduction measures and renew efforts to address nuclear and conventional threats to European security,” he said, adding, “But again, it has to be a two-way street.”

US and NATO have repeatedly voiced concerns over Russia’s plan to invade Ukraine—a charge Kremlin vehemently denies.

There have been various reports, citing satellite images, indicating that Russia has amassed thousands of troops near the Ukrainian borders.

Russia has repeatedly maintained that it has been mobilising troops in response to the presence of NATO troops in the neighbouring Ukraine border.

(With inputs from agencies)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has slammed Russia for justifying its troop build near Ukrainian borders by pushing a “false narrative” that it is being threatened by NATO.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has slammed Russia for justifying its troop build near Ukrainian borders by pushing a “false narrative” that it is being threatened by NATO. He also said that the NATO alliance is prepared to respond forcefully to any Russian aggression. Blinken made the comments while addressing reporters at the State Department ahead of the meet between diplomats of US and Russian in Europe next week aimed at bringing down the temperature between Russia and the West. “It (Moscow) claims that Ukraine is threatening Russia. That Ukraine seeks to provoke a conflict. And that the Russian troop build-up and the tanks and heavy artillery are all purely defensive. That’s like the fox saying it had to attack the henhouse because its occupants somehow pose a threat,” Blinken said. Also Read | US discussed shipping Stinger missiles to Ukraine: Report He reminded that Russian had attacked Ukraine in 2014, by blaming Kyiv to be the aggressor and said that Moscow was “simultaneously driving the false narrative that NATO is threatening Russia.” Blinken alleged that for years, Russia had been working to Ukraine's democratic institutions, interfere in its politics, block energy and commerce and sow mistrust with propaganda and disinformation. Also read | Russian demand that we never become NATO member illegitimate: Ukraine foreign minister to WION But he sounded optimistic by saying that a diplomatic solution was still possible to achieve a breakthrough in the current scheme of things. “Next week we’ll reconfirm our readiness to increase transparency, institute new risk-reduction measures and renew efforts to address nuclear and conventional threats to European security,” he said, adding, “But again, it has to be a two-way street.” US and NATO have repeatedly voiced concerns over Russia’s plan to invade Ukraine—a charge Kremlin vehemently denies. There have been various reports, citing satellite images, indicating that Russia has amassed thousands of troops near the Ukrainian borders. Russia has repeatedly maintained that it has been mobilising troops in response to the presence of NATO troops in the neighbouring Ukraine border. (With inputs from agencies)

Ahead of talks on Ukraine, Blinken says NATO prepared to respond to Russian aggression

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on Thursday in a rare phone call. The two leaders spoke about upoming talks between the two sides over Ukraine crisis. The talks are to take place in Geneva. 
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the two discussed "risk reduction near Ukraine's borders," amid continuing worries in the United States and Western Europe that Russian could invade its pro-Western neighbor.

Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops along its border with Ukrainer raising fears of an invasion. The Kremlin has made it clear that it dead against Ukraine joining NATO. Ukraine is an ex-Soviet state.

The United States and NATO allies have threatened tough sanctions against Russia if it attacks Ukraine.&nbsp;

Moscow is accused of supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine who have been locked in a deadly war with Ukraine forces since 2014, leaving at least 13,000 dead.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that talks with Russia on Monday will not succeed so long as there is a "gun to Ukraine's head."&nbsp;

If the talks are "going to show real progress, that will require de-escalation," Blinken said after discussions in Washington with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

(With inputs from agencies)

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on Thursday in a rare phone call. The two leaders spoke about upoming talks between the two sides over Ukraine crisis.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on Thursday in a rare phone call. The two leaders spoke about upoming talks between the two sides over Ukraine crisis. The talks are to take place in Geneva. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the two discussed "risk reduction near Ukraine's borders," amid continuing worries in the United States and Western Europe that Russian could invade its pro-Western neighbor. Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops along its border with Ukrainer raising fears of an invasion. The Kremlin has made it clear that it dead against Ukraine joining NATO. Ukraine is an ex-Soviet state. The United States and NATO allies have threatened tough sanctions against Russia if it attacks Ukraine. Moscow is accused of supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine who have been locked in a deadly war with Ukraine forces since 2014, leaving at least 13,000 dead. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that talks with Russia on Monday will not succeed so long as there is a "gun to Ukraine's head." If the talks are "going to show real progress, that will require de-escalation," Blinken said after discussions in Washington with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine crisis: US, Russia defence chiefs speak as tensions simmer

In a fresh stern warning to Russia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Russia must ease pressure on Ukraine if it wants progress. He renewed the warning of 'massive consequences' if Russia invades Ukraine.

Russia and the US are going to hold talks next week in Geneva over the Ukraine issue.

If the talks are "going to show real progress, that will require de-escalation," Blinken told a joint news conference with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

Pointing to Russia's hopes for progress in areas such as arms control, Blinken said, "It's very hard to make actual progress in any of these areas in an atmosphere of escalation and threat with a gun pointed to Ukraine's head."

"Russia should be in no doubt that further military aggression against Ukraine would have massive consequences and severe costs in response," Blinken said.

Baerbock, paying her first visit to Washington since taking office, agreed on the need for "severe consequences" if Russia attacks Ukraine.

The United States and Germany have been at loggerheads for years over Nord Stream 2, which is set to open and ship Russian gas directly to Europe's largest economy.

"From our perspective, it's very hard to see gas flowing through that pipeline, to become operational, if Russia renews its aggression," Blinken said.

Drawing criticism at home, President Joe Biden's administration has declined to impose sanctions over Nord Stream, saying it was virtually complete.

But the administration last year reached an agreement in which Germany promised aid to Ukraine and warned Russia against using the pipeline for geopolitical advantage.

Baerbock, asked if Germany was ready to cancel the pipeline, said only that the new government backed last year's agreement with the United States.

The new government "agreed that we take effective measures together with our European partners should Russia use energy as a weapon," she said.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a fresh stern warning to Russia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Russia must ease pressure on Ukraine if it wants progress. He renewed the warning of 'massive consequences' if Russia invades Ukraine.

In a fresh stern warning to Russia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Russia must ease pressure on Ukraine if it wants progress. He renewed the warning of 'massive consequences' if Russia invades Ukraine. Russia and the US are going to hold talks next week in Geneva over the Ukraine issue. If the talks are "going to show real progress, that will require de-escalation," Blinken told a joint news conference with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Pointing to Russia's hopes for progress in areas such as arms control, Blinken said, "It's very hard to make actual progress in any of these areas in an atmosphere of escalation and threat with a gun pointed to Ukraine's head." "Russia should be in no doubt that further military aggression against Ukraine would have massive consequences and severe costs in response," Blinken said. Baerbock, paying her first visit to Washington since taking office, agreed on the need for "severe consequences" if Russia attacks Ukraine. The United States and Germany have been at loggerheads for years over Nord Stream 2, which is set to open and ship Russian gas directly to Europe's largest economy. "From our perspective, it's very hard to see gas flowing through that pipeline, to become operational, if Russia renews its aggression," Blinken said. Drawing criticism at home, President Joe Biden's administration has declined to impose sanctions over Nord Stream, saying it was virtually complete. But the administration last year reached an agreement in which Germany promised aid to Ukraine and warned Russia against using the pipeline for geopolitical advantage. Baerbock, asked if Germany was ready to cancel the pipeline, said only that the new government backed last year's agreement with the United States. The new government "agreed that we take effective measures together with our European partners should Russia use energy as a weapon," she said. (With inputs from agencies)

No progress with Russia so long as 'gun to Ukraine's head': Blinken

Foreign ministers of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) will hold an emergency videoconference on Friday to discuss Ukraine crisis. Russia's military build-up along its border with Ukraine has become a major flashpoint in relations between Russia and the West.

Though Russia denies that it has intentions of invading Ukraine, it continues to allege that Ukrainian manoeuvres were creating security challenges for Russia. It is seen by many to be Russian attempts towards creating an excuse for invasion. Russia has massed about 100,000 troops at the frontier.

High-ranking officials from the United States and NATO are set to hold talks with Russia next week after Moscow laid down a list of demands for Washington and the Western military alliance.&nbsp;

The Kremlin is insisting NATO must never grant membership for ex-Soviet Ukraine and must roll back its forces near Russia's border.

But the West has rejected what it calls a bid by Moscow to dictate the future of independent partners and threatened Moscow with "severe costs" if it launches a fresh incursion of Ukraine.

President Joe Biden's administration has sought to reassure wary European allies that it will act in concert with them, dismissing suggestions that it could seek a Cold War-style agreement that affects Europe without its participation.

The last meeting of the NATO-Russia Council was held in 2019 and relations between the two former Cold War foes have been frozen amid deep mutual distrust.

NATO has insisted it remains open for dialogue and previously accused Moscow of spurning its invitation to hold fresh talks.&nbsp;

Russia seized the Ukrainian region of Crimea in 2014 and is accused of fomenting a bloody conflict in the east of the country that has killed over 13,000.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Foreign ministers of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) will hold an emergency videoconference on Friday to discuss Ukraine crisis. Russia's military build-up along its border with Ukraine has become a major flashpoint in relations between Russia and the West.

Foreign ministers of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) will hold an emergency videoconference on Friday to discuss Ukraine crisis. Russia's military build-up along its border with Ukraine has become a major flashpoint in relations between Russia and the West. Though Russia denies that it has intentions of invading Ukraine, it continues to allege that Ukrainian manoeuvres were creating security challenges for Russia. It is seen by many to be Russian attempts towards creating an excuse for invasion. Russia has massed about 100,000 troops at the frontier. High-ranking officials from the United States and NATO are set to hold talks with Russia next week after Moscow laid down a list of demands for Washington and the Western military alliance. The Kremlin is insisting NATO must never grant membership for ex-Soviet Ukraine and must roll back its forces near Russia's border. But the West has rejected what it calls a bid by Moscow to dictate the future of independent partners and threatened Moscow with "severe costs" if it launches a fresh incursion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden's administration has sought to reassure wary European allies that it will act in concert with them, dismissing suggestions that it could seek a Cold War-style agreement that affects Europe without its participation. The last meeting of the NATO-Russia Council was held in 2019 and relations between the two former Cold War foes have been frozen amid deep mutual distrust. NATO has insisted it remains open for dialogue and previously accused Moscow of spurning its invitation to hold fresh talks. Russia seized the Ukrainian region of Crimea in 2014 and is accused of fomenting a bloody conflict in the east of the country that has killed over 13,000. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine Crisis: Foreign ministers of NATO countries to hold emergency talks

US President Joe Biden assured Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Washington and its allies would act “decisively” if the easter European country is invaded by Russia.

Biden made the stern warning while talking to Zelenskyy over a phone call on Sunday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, as Russia reportedly continues to spruce up its troops on the Ukrainian borders.

In his call with Zelensky, Biden also stressed Washington's commitment “to the principle of 'nothing about you without you”, in an apparent reference to the need to include Ukraine in negotiations about its own future.

Zelensky later tweeted that he appreciated the United States' “unwavering support” and that the call “proves the special nature” of the two countries’ relationship.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-closes-ports-to-russian-ships-says-russian-media-441661">&nbsp;Ukraine closes ports to Russian ships, says Russian media</a>

The comments from Biden comes a week after he and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged warnings over Ukraine.

Discussing the call with Putin on Friday, Biden said, “I'm not going to negotiate here in public, but we made it clear he cannot —I'll emphasize, cannot —invade Ukraine."

The US leader added that he had “made it clear to President Putin that we will have severe sanctions, we will increase our presence in Europe, with NATO allies” if Russia invades Ukraine.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-closes-ports-to-russian-ships-says-russian-media-441661">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/if-russia-invades-ukraine-us-to-send-more-troops-to-eastern-europe-434750">If Russia invades Ukraine, US to send more troops to Eastern Europe</a>

It is being reported that around 100,000 Russian troops are massed near the border of the country, where Putin already seized the Crimea region in 2014 and is accused of fomenting a pro-Russian separatist war which erupted that same year in the east.

Putin has repeatedly said NATO should not extend its border further east bordering Russia and demanded Ukraine should not join the European military alliance, however, NATO officials haven't given any assurances to Russia so far.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden assured Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Washington and its allies would act “decisively” if the easter European country is invaded by Russia.

US President Joe Biden assured Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Washington and its allies would act “decisively” if the easter European country is invaded by Russia. Biden made the stern warning while talking to Zelenskyy over a phone call on Sunday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, as Russia reportedly continues to spruce up its troops on the Ukrainian borders. In his call with Zelensky, Biden also stressed Washington's commitment “to the principle of 'nothing about you without you”, in an apparent reference to the need to include Ukraine in negotiations about its own future. Zelensky later tweeted that he appreciated the United States' “unwavering support” and that the call “proves the special nature” of the two countries’ relationship. Also read | Ukraine closes ports to Russian ships, says Russian media The comments from Biden comes a week after he and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged warnings over Ukraine. Discussing the call with Putin on Friday, Biden said, “I'm not going to negotiate here in public, but we made it clear he cannot —I'll emphasize, cannot —invade Ukraine." The US leader added that he had “made it clear to President Putin that we will have severe sanctions, we will increase our presence in Europe, with NATO allies” if Russia invades Ukraine. Also read | If Russia invades Ukraine, US to send more troops to Eastern Europe It is being reported that around 100,000 Russian troops are massed near the border of the country, where Putin already seized the Crimea region in 2014 and is accused of fomenting a pro-Russian separatist war which erupted that same year in the east. Putin has repeatedly said NATO should not extend its border further east bordering Russia and demanded Ukraine should not join the European military alliance, however, NATO officials haven't given any assurances to Russia so far. (With inputs from agencies)

US will act ‘decisively’ if Russia invades, says Biden in phone call with Ukraine President

US President Joe Biden is due to speak on Sunday with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zekensky on phone about Russian assertiveness in the region. There are growing fears that Russian military build-up along its border with Ukraine is a preparation for an invasion. Russia has already annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

Biden's conversation with Zelensky, a show of support, will come just days after Biden's warning to Russia against invading Ukraine. The USA and number of western countries have threatened Russia of severe consequences if it invades Ukraine.

There have been allegations from Russian quarters that Ukraine's manoeuvres were threatening Russian security. But this is widely seen as an excuse-building exercise to justify possible aggression.

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Using some of his most direct language yet, Biden said Friday, "I'm not going to negotiate here in public, but we made it clear he cannot -- I'll emphasize, cannot -- invade Ukraine."

The US leader added, in remarks to reporters during a holiday stay in Delaware, that he had "made it clear to President Putin that we will have severe sanctions, we will increase our presence in Europe, with NATO allies" if Russia invades Ukraine.

The White House said that in Sunday's call with Zelensky, Biden will "reaffirm US support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, discuss Russia's military build-up on Ukraine's borders, and review preparations for upcoming diplomatic engagements to help de-escalate the situation in the region."

Zelensky tweeted: "Look forward to talking again with @POTUS this Sunday to coordinate our steps for the sake of peace in Ukraine and security in Europe."

'Engage meaningfully'

Washington and its European allies accuse Russia of threatening Ukraine with a new invasion.&nbsp;

Some 100,000 Russian troops are massed near the border of the country, where Putin already seized the Crimea region in 2014 and is accused of fomenting a pro-Russian separatist war which erupted that same year in the east.

Moscow describes the troop presence as protection against the expansion of NATO, although Ukraine has not been offered membership in the military alliance.

High-ranking US and Russian officials are due to sit down on January 9 and 10 in Geneva to discuss the crisis.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Friday with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg; afterwards, Blinken urged Russia to "engage meaningfully" in the upcoming talks on the tense standoff between Moscow and Kiev.

Stoltenberg said that NATO was "united" and "prepared for dialogue."

In Thursday's call, Biden warned Putin against invading Ukraine, while the Kremlin leader said anti-Moscow sanctions would be a "colossal mistake."

After a 50-minute phone call -- their second in just over three weeks -- both presidents indicated support for further diplomacy.

Putin was "pleased" overall with the talks, foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov told reporters.&nbsp;

A senior US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the tone "was serious and substantive."

But there was no disguising the depth of disagreement -- or the dangerously high stakes on the fringes of eastern Europe.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden is due to speak on Sunday with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zekensky on phone about Russian assertiveness in the region. There are growing fears that Russian military build-up along its border with Ukraine is a preparation for an invasion.

US President Joe Biden is due to speak on Sunday with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zekensky on phone about Russian assertiveness in the region. There are growing fears that Russian military build-up along its border with Ukraine is a preparation for an invasion. Russia has already annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Biden's conversation with Zelensky, a show of support, will come just days after Biden's warning to Russia against invading Ukraine. The USA and number of western countries have threatened Russia of severe consequences if it invades Ukraine. There have been allegations from Russian quarters that Ukraine's manoeuvres were threatening Russian security. But this is widely seen as an excuse-building exercise to justify possible aggression. × Using some of his most direct language yet, Biden said Friday, "I'm not going to negotiate here in public, but we made it clear he cannot -- I'll emphasize, cannot -- invade Ukraine." The US leader added, in remarks to reporters during a holiday stay in Delaware, that he had "made it clear to President Putin that we will have severe sanctions, we will increase our presence in Europe, with NATO allies" if Russia invades Ukraine. The White House said that in Sunday's call with Zelensky, Biden will "reaffirm US support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, discuss Russia's military build-up on Ukraine's borders, and review preparations for upcoming diplomatic engagements to help de-escalate the situation in the region." Zelensky tweeted: "Look forward to talking again with @POTUS this Sunday to coordinate our steps for the sake of peace in Ukraine and security in Europe." 'Engage meaningfully' Washington and its European allies accuse Russia of threatening Ukraine with a new invasion. Some 100,000 Russian troops are massed near the border of the country, where Putin already seized the Crimea region in 2014 and is accused of fomenting a pro-Russian separatist war which erupted that same year in the east. Moscow describes the troop presence as protection against the expansion of NATO, although Ukraine has not been offered membership in the military alliance. High-ranking US and Russian officials are due to sit down on January 9 and 10 in Geneva to discuss the crisis. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Friday with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg; afterwards, Blinken urged Russia to "engage meaningfully" in the upcoming talks on the tense standoff between Moscow and Kiev. Stoltenberg said that NATO was "united" and "prepared for dialogue." In Thursday's call, Biden warned Putin against invading Ukraine, while the Kremlin leader said anti-Moscow sanctions would be a "colossal mistake." After a 50-minute phone call -- their second in just over three weeks -- both presidents indicated support for further diplomacy. Putin was "pleased" overall with the talks, foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov told reporters. A senior US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the tone "was serious and substantive." But there was no disguising the depth of disagreement -- or the dangerously high stakes on the fringes of eastern Europe. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden to speak with Ukraine president on heels of warning to Russia against invasion

In what can be a move that can further strain relations between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine on Saturday closed its ports to Russian ships, said multiple Russian media reports.

Ukraine's new law has effectively denied access to Russian ships (cargo and passenger) access to its inland waters. The proposal to restrict Russian vessels in inland waters was proposed by Ukraine&nbsp;in 2018. The country passed a law to this effect in 2020. The law has come into effect on January 1, 2022.

This development has come on the same day as Ukraine's army's report that said that a Ukrainian soldier was killed during fight with pro-Russian separatists in the eastern region of the country. It is alleged that the separatists enjoy support from Russia but Russia has repeatedly denied this.

Ukraine and Russia are already at odds with each other over Russian troop build-up along the border. Though Russia has said that it does not intend to invade Ukraine, it has been alleging that Ukraine's manoeuvres were creating security threats for Russia. Ukraine was part of erstwhile Soviet Russia. Russia has already annexed Crimea, formerly a part of Ukraine.

Western nations have issued number of warnings to Russian President Vladimir Putin against invading Ukraine. Putin has made clear that inclusion of Ukraine in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) would be unacceptable to Russia.

In what can be a move that can further strain relations between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine on Saturday closed its ports to Russian ships, said multiple Russian media reports.

In what can be a move that can further strain relations between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine on Saturday closed its ports to Russian ships, said multiple Russian media reports. Ukraine's new law has effectively denied access to Russian ships (cargo and passenger) access to its inland waters. The proposal to restrict Russian vessels in inland waters was proposed by Ukraine in 2018. The country passed a law to this effect in 2020. The law has come into effect on January 1, 2022. This development has come on the same day as Ukraine's army's report that said that a Ukrainian soldier was killed during fight with pro-Russian separatists in the eastern region of the country. It is alleged that the separatists enjoy support from Russia but Russia has repeatedly denied this. Ukraine and Russia are already at odds with each other over Russian troop build-up along the border. Though Russia has said that it does not intend to invade Ukraine, it has been alleging that Ukraine's manoeuvres were creating security threats for Russia. Ukraine was part of erstwhile Soviet Russia. Russia has already annexed Crimea, formerly a part of Ukraine. Western nations have issued number of warnings to Russian President Vladimir Putin against invading Ukraine. Putin has made clear that inclusion of Ukraine in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) would be unacceptable to Russia.

Ukraine closes ports to Russian ships, says Russian media

Amidst mounting tensions between Russia and the US and its NATO allies over Ukraine, Russia’s President Putin and the US President Biden spoke over phone on Thursday, the 30th December for the second time in one month. ( the earlier virtual talk was held on 7th December) .

The talks between the two world leaders have been necessitated as the US and its European allies are concerned over the Russian military build-up around Ukraine, particularly over the past two months; they are also concerned over a &nbsp;possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which in 2014 had annexed the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine through military intervention.

Russia on its part is averse to the idea of Ukraine being admitted as a member of the NATO alliance. The US warnings of severe economic sanctions and threats to exclude Russia from the global financial system (if Russia chooses to attack Ukraine) do not seem to have deterred Russia which appears to have learnt to live with the regime of sanctions by the West.

Putin on its part appears adamant on his rather difficult demand for legally binding assurances that the West will not arm Ukraine, will not admit Ukraine into NATO &nbsp;and will not deploy offensive weapons in Ukraine or other neighbouring countries.

The origins of the current phase of the standoff between the West and Russia can be traced to the period immediately after the disintegration of the USSR in 1991, when the West adopted a policy of ideological conquest of the former Soviet Union and its satellite countries in East Europe through financial and technical assistance. Gradually, the NATO began to increase its footprints in the post-Soviet space.

Beginning from 1999 the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland (1999), Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia (2004), Albania and Croatia (2009), Montenegro (2017) and North Macedonia (2020) have been taken into the fold of NATO.&nbsp;

Russia considers the post-Soviet space as its natural sphere of influence and describes the region as its “Near Abroad”. Russia under Putin has been &nbsp;strongly &nbsp;opposing &nbsp;the eastwards expansion of NATO. From Russia’s perspective, the NATO presence in its backyard will have serious security implications for the country.

It may be recalled that at its Summit in Bucharest the NATO had announced on 3rd April, 2008 that Georgia and Ukraine “will be Members of NATO”, though no specific timeframe was revealed. A couple of months earlier, Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence on 17th February, 2008 was promptly recognised by the USA and some European countries.

These were some of the important factors which led to Russia-Georgia war in August 2008 and recognition of independence of Georgia’s strategically located breakaway territories Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Black Sea area by Russia where Russia has since consolidated its position considerably. This was followed by Russia’s annexation in 2014 of another strategically located territory namely the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine along the Black Sea coast.

It appears from the media reports and statements following the second round of virtual talks between the two world leaders that no immediate tangible resolution of the standoff emerged from the talks. The two leaders are holding on to their respective positions. Biden is talking about diplomacy or serious consequences whereas Putin maintains that any fresh sanctions would only be counter-productive and “could lead to a complete breakdown of ties between the two countries”.

Russia denies any intention to invade its neighbour, it, however, &nbsp;demands security guarantees from the West that include a ban on the expansion of the NATO with the eventual objective of encircling the &nbsp;former Soviet states such as Ukraine and Georgia. Russia is also demanding the withdrawal of NATO forces in Europe to positions they held in 1997. Observers feel these demands are non-starter.

The flip and positive side of the story is that the two sides have agreed on three sets of talks in January, 2022: US-Russia bilateral Strategic Stability Dialogue ( Geneva, Jan 9-10) , Russia-NATO Council Session (Brussels , 12th January ) and an expanded meeting within the framework of OSCE (Vienna,13th January) with participation by the European countries.&nbsp;

It would be interesting to watch the outcome of the forthcoming deliberations beginning from 9th January, 2022 and see whether these meetings succeed in de-escalation of tensions, even if &nbsp; they cannot find a &nbsp;permanent solution which in any case is not expected at this juncture.

Needless to add that prolonged strained relations between Russia and the USA+Europe would have an adverse impact on the overall security situation in Europe in particular and all over the world in general; the larger issues of global interest such as arms control, cyber security, climate change etc. can also be adversely impacted. In addition, the US-Russia cold war could lead to further geo-strategic polarisation the signs of which are already visible. Further, neutral countries such as India may feel compelled to do a tight rope walk, while safeguarding their national interests.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Amidst mounting tensions between Russia and the US and its NATO allies over Ukraine, Russia’s President Putin and the US President Biden spoke over phone on Thursday, the 30th December for the second time in one month.

Amidst mounting tensions between Russia and the US and its NATO allies over Ukraine, Russia’s President Putin and the US President Biden spoke over phone on Thursday, the 30th December for the second time in one month. ( the earlier virtual talk was held on 7th December) . The talks between the two world leaders have been necessitated as the US and its European allies are concerned over the Russian military build-up around Ukraine, particularly over the past two months; they are also concerned over a possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which in 2014 had annexed the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine through military intervention. Russia on its part is averse to the idea of Ukraine being admitted as a member of the NATO alliance. The US warnings of severe economic sanctions and threats to exclude Russia from the global financial system (if Russia chooses to attack Ukraine) do not seem to have deterred Russia which appears to have learnt to live with the regime of sanctions by the West. Putin on its part appears adamant on his rather difficult demand for legally binding assurances that the West will not arm Ukraine, will not admit Ukraine into NATO and will not deploy offensive weapons in Ukraine or other neighbouring countries. The origins of the current phase of the standoff between the West and Russia can be traced to the period immediately after the disintegration of the USSR in 1991, when the West adopted a policy of ideological conquest of the former Soviet Union and its satellite countries in East Europe through financial and technical assistance. Gradually, the NATO began to increase its footprints in the post-Soviet space. Beginning from 1999 the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland (1999), Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia (2004), Albania and Croatia (2009), Montenegro (2017) and North Macedonia (2020) have been taken into the fold of NATO. Russia considers the post-Soviet space as its natural sphere of influence and describes the region as its “Near Abroad”. Russia under Putin has been strongly opposing the eastwards expansion of NATO. From Russia’s perspective, the NATO presence in its backyard will have serious security implications for the country. It may be recalled that at its Summit in Bucharest the NATO had announced on 3rd April, 2008 that Georgia and Ukraine “will be Members of NATO”, though no specific timeframe was revealed. A couple of months earlier, Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence on 17th February, 2008 was promptly recognised by the USA and some European countries. These were some of the important factors which led to Russia-Georgia war in August 2008 and recognition of independence of Georgia’s strategically located breakaway territories Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Black Sea area by Russia where Russia has since consolidated its position considerably. This was followed by Russia’s annexation in 2014 of another strategically located territory namely the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine along the Black Sea coast. It appears from the media reports and statements following the second round of virtual talks between the two world leaders that no immediate tangible resolution of the standoff emerged from the talks. The two leaders are holding on to their respective positions. Biden is talking about diplomacy or serious consequences whereas Putin maintains that any fresh sanctions would only be counter-productive and “could lead to a complete breakdown of ties between the two countries”. Russia denies any intention to invade its neighbour, it, however, demands security guarantees from the West that include a ban on the expansion of the NATO with the eventual objective of encircling the former Soviet states such as Ukraine and Georgia. Russia is also demanding the withdrawal of NATO forces in Europe to positions they held in 1997. Observers feel these demands are non-starter. The flip and positive side of the story is that the two sides have agreed on three sets of talks in January, 2022: US-Russia bilateral Strategic Stability Dialogue ( Geneva, Jan 9-10) , Russia-NATO Council Session (Brussels , 12th January ) and an expanded meeting within the framework of OSCE (Vienna,13th January) with participation by the European countries. It would be interesting to watch the outcome of the forthcoming deliberations beginning from 9th January, 2022 and see whether these meetings succeed in de-escalation of tensions, even if they cannot find a permanent solution which in any case is not expected at this juncture. Needless to add that prolonged strained relations between Russia and the USA+Europe would have an adverse impact on the overall security situation in Europe in particular and all over the world in general; the larger issues of global interest such as arms control, cyber security, climate change etc. can also be adversely impacted. In addition, the US-Russia cold war could lead to further geo-strategic polarisation the signs of which are already visible. Further, neutral countries such as India may feel compelled to do a tight rope walk, while safeguarding their national interests. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

The larger dimensions of the Russia–US standoff over Ukraine

Amid tensions at the border with Ukraine, Russian President&nbsp;Vladimir&nbsp;Putin said today that it's "almost impossible" to have good relations with the current Ukrainian authorities referring to President Zelenskiy.

"President Zelenskiy came to power and instead of meeting got under the influence of radical nationalistic forces," Putin said as tensions continue on the border with Ukraine with thousands of Russian troops massed at the border.

Putin spoke about the Russian rebels in Ukraine's Donbass asserting that his regime was ready to play the role of a "mediator"&nbsp;to secure the future of the people in the area.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/training-civilians-ukraine-nurtures-a-resistance-in-waiting-440215/amp">Also Read:&nbsp;Training civilians, Ukraine nurtures a resistance in waiting</a>

However, the Russian president said the Ukrainian authorities call the rebels "terrorists and say they won't talk to them."

President Zelenskiy has however said he is ready for talks with Russia, a move which has been rejected by the Russian side.

Watch: Gravitas |&nbsp;&nbsp;Russia pulls back 10,000 soldiers from Ukraine border

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Meanwhile, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has sought a meeting with the Russia Council early next year after the Russian foreign ministry said it was ready for a meeting over Ukraine. Putin has consistently maintained that NATO should not extend its border to the east pointing towards Ukraine.

TASS news agency quoted deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov as saying that the regime is "not bluffing" on security proposals forwarded to NATO and the US.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/satellite-images-expose-russias-attempts-of-building-up-forces-near-ukraine-439845">Also Read:&nbsp;Satellite images expose Russia's attempts of building up forces near Ukraine</a>

"These are our real proposals. The West’s awareness of this needs to be facilitated and we are going to make every effort to achieve it," &nbsp;Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency.

(With inputs from Agencies)&nbsp; &nbsp;

Amid tensions at the border with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that it's "almost impossible" to have good relations with the current Ukrainian authorities referring to President Zelenskiy.

Amid tensions at the border with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that it's "almost impossible" to have good relations with the current Ukrainian authorities referring to President Zelenskiy. "President Zelenskiy came to power and instead of meeting got under the influence of radical nationalistic forces," Putin said as tensions continue on the border with Ukraine with thousands of Russian troops massed at the border. Putin spoke about the Russian rebels in Ukraine's Donbass asserting that his regime was ready to play the role of a "mediator" to secure the future of the people in the area. Also Read: Training civilians, Ukraine nurtures a resistance in waiting However, the Russian president said the Ukrainian authorities call the rebels "terrorists and say they won't talk to them." President Zelenskiy has however said he is ready for talks with Russia, a move which has been rejected by the Russian side. Watch: Gravitas | Russia pulls back 10,000 soldiers from Ukraine border Meanwhile, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has sought a meeting with the Russia Council early next year after the Russian foreign ministry said it was ready for a meeting over Ukraine. Putin has consistently maintained that NATO should not extend its border to the east pointing towards Ukraine. TASS news agency quoted deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov as saying that the regime is "not bluffing" on security proposals forwarded to NATO and the US. Also Read: Satellite images expose Russia's attempts of building up forces near Ukraine "These are our real proposals. The West’s awareness of this needs to be facilitated and we are going to make every effort to achieve it," Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency. (With inputs from Agencies)

Ukraine President Zelenskiy under influence of radical nationalistic forces, says Putin

In a pine forest not far from Ukraine’s capital, a mock battle raged. Commanders barked orders. Figures in camouflage huddled behind trees. A soldier fell to the ground, yelling for help.

His cries provided the cue for Anastasia Biloshitska, 25, to run into the line of fire, kneel in the mud and open her medical kit.

“People who are prepared won’t panic,” Biloshitska said.

Biloshitska is one of thousands of Ukrainian civilians who have signed up to learn combat skills in training programs created and run by the government and private paramilitary groups. The programs are part of the country’s strategic defense plan in the event of a potential invasion by Russia — to foster a civilian resistance that can carry on the fight if the Ukrainian military is overwhelmed.

There is no indication that President Vladimir Putin of Russia has made up his mind whether to launch an attack. But if one should come, even Ukraine’s own generals say their regular military stands little chance in a full-fledged invasion.

So Ukraine has drawn a lesson from the United States’ wars in Iraq and Afghanistan of the past two decades, when guerrillas provided enduring resistance in the face of vastly superior U.S. firepower.

“We have a strong army, but not strong enough to defend against Russia,” said Marta Yuzkiv, a doctor working in clinical research, who signed up for training this month. “If we are occupied, and I hope that doesn’t happen, we will become the national resistance.”

Government-sponsored training for civilians has underpinned Nordic and Swiss military strategies for decades, and is gaining traction as a military doctrine in Eastern Europe.

Spurred on by Russian threats, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania all have programs encouraging rifle ownership for some civilians and formal training to fight as partisans after an occupation.

Nearly every weekend in Estonia, for example, the Defense League, a self-defense organization, holds exercises in the forests for volunteers, right down to making improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, the weapon that plagued the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Civilian defense is not unfamiliar in Ukraine; volunteer brigades formed the backbone of the country’s force in the east in 2014, the first year of the war against Russian separatists, when the Ukrainian military was in shambles.

This effort is now being formalized into units of the newly formed Territorial Defense Forces, a part of the military. Last year, the Ukrainian army began weekend training for civilian volunteers in these units.

The government runs, and pays for, some of the training sessions through the Territorial Defense Forces. Private paramilitary groups like the Ukrainian Legion run other sessions, for which their members pay all the costs. The legion conducted the program in the forest outside Kyiv earlier this month.

The goal is not to achieve victory against the weight of the Russian military, which would be virtually impossible for Ukraine anyway. Rather it is to create the threat of disruption and resistance to an occupying force that would serve as a deterrent to an invasion.

Gen. Anatoliy Barhylevych, deputy commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, has said the country aims to turn out about 100,000 volunteers in the event of conflict. But a spokesman for the Ukrainian Defense Forces said he could not disclose how many people had formally enlisted in the training programs.

Opinion surveys suggest some support for the effort. A poll this fall, for example, showed 24% of Ukrainians saying they would resist “with a weapon in hand” if Russia invaded. Among men, 39% said they would resist with weapons. Ukrainians have taken to posting selfies on social media holding rifles.

Ukrainian commanders say that half a million Ukrainians have military experience and that they hope many would join a fight, including those belonging to private groups like Ukrainian Legion.

But skeptics say that this is partly bluster and that the Ukrainian command could hardly count on a flood of veterans becoming insurgents.

In the forest, shrouded in a bitter-cold morning mist, schoolteachers, accountants, waitresses and programmers spilled out of Toyotas and Fords and made their way to the training sessions.

At one picnic area, the lesson of the day was topical, if nerve-rattling: how to screw a fuse into the slab of high explosives of an anti-tank mine.

“We don’t have many Javelins, and the Russians have a lot of tanks,” said Mykhailo Hiraldo-Ramires, the instructor. The Javelin is a type of American anti-tank missile that the United States has provided to the Ukrainian army in limited numbers. “We will get them with these so-called pancakes instead.”

Hiraldo-Ramires demonstrated how to install and arm the detonator, using a model of a mine. This requires removing a metal safety ribbon and pushing a button that when depressed makes a startling snapping noise, indicating the mine is armed. After you do that, he said, you should “move back to a safe distance.”

Ihor Gribenoshko, 56, an advertising executive at a pharmaceutical company, took notes. “The more coffins we send back, the more the Russian people will start thinking twice,” he said.

The Ukrainian Legion does not distribute weapons and instead encourages members to train with their own rifles. It also does not explain how the explosives would wind up in civilian hands. But members said they keep rucksacks in their homes packed with walkie talkies, medical kits, sleeping bags and warm clothes — ready at a moment’s notice.

Critics point to perils in the plan for civilian defense. One concern is that domestic political divisions could spark violence from armed militias. Some scenarios envision Moscow seizing on this vulnerability, turning nationalist militias into a destabilizing threat to the government.

In an invasion, these groups could “quickly turn into a decentralized insurgency in many parts of the country,” a study of scenarios for war between Ukraine and Russia by the Institute for the Study of War in Washington noted.

Others worry that the effort encourages private gun ownership, which carries risks in crime, suicide and domestic violence. Ukrainian law requires a psychological examination to obtain a gun license. In a country of about 40 million, 1.3 million Ukrainians own licensed civilian firearms, according to the Ministry of Interior.

The civilian training include lectures as well as hands-on sessions. Earlier this month, the day before the program in the forest, about 100 people filed into a concert hall in an outlying district of Kyiv, griping about the limited on-street parking and lining up at a vending machine for coffee.

They came for a nearly two-hour lecture sponsored by the Territorial Defense Forces on likely plans of attack on Kyiv — including armored columns rolling in on highways or paratroopers seizing the airport — by Lt. Yuri Matviyenko, a former Ukrainian military attaché to Israel.

“Expect a fast storming,” he said. “We won’t have much time.”

He described how the volunteers might resist based on the tactics of Islamist militias in Aleppo, Syria. The volunteers should use their knowledge of their own neighbourhoods to move close to the Russian soldiers, leaving too little separation to call in airstrikes or artillery, he said.

The next day, out in the pine forest, Biloshitska — who studied to be a teacher but is now working as a waitress — examined the man playing the role of a casualty as she trained to provide first aid. It did not look good. Small strips of red duct tape indicated multiple wounds. Pressure was applied. Gauze came out. A mock radio call took place.

“Artillery! One! Two! Three!” an instructor yelled. Biloshitska tumbled to the ground, taking cover, than sprang back up to stanch the bleeding.

On a typical weekend, Biloshitska said, she might read a book, do laundry or meet a friend at a coffee shop. Learning to dress battle wounds was a new experience.

Biloshitska treated an area marked as an exit wound on the man’s back. Finally, panting, sweating and surrounded by discarded bandages and medical gloves, she was finished. “How do you feel?” she asked the man.

“Terrible,” he said. “I was shot in the chest.”

In a pine forest not far from Ukraine’s capital, a mock battle raged. Commanders barked orders. Figures in camouflage huddled behind trees. A soldier fell to the ground, yelling for help.

In a pine forest not far from Ukraine’s capital, a mock battle raged. Commanders barked orders. Figures in camouflage huddled behind trees. A soldier fell to the ground, yelling for help. His cries provided the cue for Anastasia Biloshitska, 25, to run into the line of fire, kneel in the mud and open her medical kit. “People who are prepared won’t panic,” Biloshitska said. Biloshitska is one of thousands of Ukrainian civilians who have signed up to learn combat skills in training programs created and run by the government and private paramilitary groups. The programs are part of the country’s strategic defense plan in the event of a potential invasion by Russia — to foster a civilian resistance that can carry on the fight if the Ukrainian military is overwhelmed. There is no indication that President Vladimir Putin of Russia has made up his mind whether to launch an attack. But if one should come, even Ukraine’s own generals say their regular military stands little chance in a full-fledged invasion. So Ukraine has drawn a lesson from the United States’ wars in Iraq and Afghanistan of the past two decades, when guerrillas provided enduring resistance in the face of vastly superior U.S. firepower. “We have a strong army, but not strong enough to defend against Russia,” said Marta Yuzkiv, a doctor working in clinical research, who signed up for training this month. “If we are occupied, and I hope that doesn’t happen, we will become the national resistance.” Government-sponsored training for civilians has underpinned Nordic and Swiss military strategies for decades, and is gaining traction as a military doctrine in Eastern Europe. Spurred on by Russian threats, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania all have programs encouraging rifle ownership for some civilians and formal training to fight as partisans after an occupation. Nearly every weekend in Estonia, for example, the Defense League, a self-defense organization, holds exercises in the forests for volunteers, right down to making improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, the weapon that plagued the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan. Civilian defense is not unfamiliar in Ukraine; volunteer brigades formed the backbone of the country’s force in the east in 2014, the first year of the war against Russian separatists, when the Ukrainian military was in shambles. This effort is now being formalized into units of the newly formed Territorial Defense Forces, a part of the military. Last year, the Ukrainian army began weekend training for civilian volunteers in these units. The government runs, and pays for, some of the training sessions through the Territorial Defense Forces. Private paramilitary groups like the Ukrainian Legion run other sessions, for which their members pay all the costs. The legion conducted the program in the forest outside Kyiv earlier this month. The goal is not to achieve victory against the weight of the Russian military, which would be virtually impossible for Ukraine anyway. Rather it is to create the threat of disruption and resistance to an occupying force that would serve as a deterrent to an invasion. Gen. Anatoliy Barhylevych, deputy commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, has said the country aims to turn out about 100,000 volunteers in the event of conflict. But a spokesman for the Ukrainian Defense Forces said he could not disclose how many people had formally enlisted in the training programs. Opinion surveys suggest some support for the effort. A poll this fall, for example, showed 24% of Ukrainians saying they would resist “with a weapon in hand” if Russia invaded. Among men, 39% said they would resist with weapons. Ukrainians have taken to posting selfies on social media holding rifles. Ukrainian commanders say that half a million Ukrainians have military experience and that they hope many would join a fight, including those belonging to private groups like Ukrainian Legion. But skeptics say that this is partly bluster and that the Ukrainian command could hardly count on a flood of veterans becoming insurgents. In the forest, shrouded in a bitter-cold morning mist, schoolteachers, accountants, waitresses and programmers spilled out of Toyotas and Fords and made their way to the training sessions. At one picnic area, the lesson of the day was topical, if nerve-rattling: how to screw a fuse into the slab of high explosives of an anti-tank mine. “We don’t have many Javelins, and the Russians have a lot of tanks,” said Mykhailo Hiraldo-Ramires, the instructor. The Javelin is a type of American anti-tank missile that the United States has provided to the Ukrainian army in limited numbers. “We will get them with these so-called pancakes instead.” Hiraldo-Ramires demonstrated how to install and arm the detonator, using a model of a mine. This requires removing a metal safety ribbon and pushing a button that when depressed makes a startling snapping noise, indicating the mine is armed. After you do that, he said, you should “move back to a safe distance.” Ihor Gribenoshko, 56, an advertising executive at a pharmaceutical company, took notes. “The more coffins we send back, the more the Russian people will start thinking twice,” he said. The Ukrainian Legion does not distribute weapons and instead encourages members to train with their own rifles. It also does not explain how the explosives would wind up in civilian hands. But members said they keep rucksacks in their homes packed with walkie talkies, medical kits, sleeping bags and warm clothes — ready at a moment’s notice. Critics point to perils in the plan for civilian defense. One concern is that domestic political divisions could spark violence from armed militias. Some scenarios envision Moscow seizing on this vulnerability, turning nationalist militias into a destabilizing threat to the government. In an invasion, these groups could “quickly turn into a decentralized insurgency in many parts of the country,” a study of scenarios for war between Ukraine and Russia by the Institute for the Study of War in Washington noted. Others worry that the effort encourages private gun ownership, which carries risks in crime, suicide and domestic violence. Ukrainian law requires a psychological examination to obtain a gun license. In a country of about 40 million, 1.3 million Ukrainians own licensed civilian firearms, according to the Ministry of Interior. The civilian training include lectures as well as hands-on sessions. Earlier this month, the day before the program in the forest, about 100 people filed into a concert hall in an outlying district of Kyiv, griping about the limited on-street parking and lining up at a vending machine for coffee. They came for a nearly two-hour lecture sponsored by the Territorial Defense Forces on likely plans of attack on Kyiv — including armored columns rolling in on highways or paratroopers seizing the airport — by Lt. Yuri Matviyenko, a former Ukrainian military attaché to Israel. “Expect a fast storming,” he said. “We won’t have much time.” He described how the volunteers might resist based on the tactics of Islamist militias in Aleppo, Syria. The volunteers should use their knowledge of their own neighbourhoods to move close to the Russian soldiers, leaving too little separation to call in airstrikes or artillery, he said. The next day, out in the pine forest, Biloshitska — who studied to be a teacher but is now working as a waitress — examined the man playing the role of a casualty as she trained to provide first aid. It did not look good. Small strips of red duct tape indicated multiple wounds. Pressure was applied. Gauze came out. A mock radio call took place. “Artillery! One! Two! Three!” an instructor yelled. Biloshitska tumbled to the ground, taking cover, than sprang back up to stanch the bleeding. On a typical weekend, Biloshitska said, she might read a book, do laundry or meet a friend at a coffee shop. Learning to dress battle wounds was a new experience. Biloshitska treated an area marked as an exit wound on the man’s back. Finally, panting, sweating and surrounded by discarded bandages and medical gloves, she was finished. “How do you feel?” she asked the man. “Terrible,” he said. “I was shot in the chest.”

Training civilians, Ukraine nurtures a resistance in waiting

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