Al Dakhil
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"Air Defence system" being send to Ukraine , the question is what do they mean by that , Stingers ?
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"Air Defence system" being send to Ukraine , the question is what do they mean by that , Stingers ?
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US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worry
WASHINGTON
The Pentagon ordered 8,500 troops on higher alert to potentially deploy to Europe as part of a NATO “response force” amid growing concern that Russia could soon make a military move on Ukraine. President Joe Biden consulted with key European leaders, underscoring U.S. solidarity with allies there.
Putting the U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for Europe on Monday suggested diminishing hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin will back away from what Biden himself has said looks like a threat to invade neighboring Ukraine.
At stake, beyond the future of Ukraine, is the credibility of a NATO alliance that is central to U.S. defense strategy but that Putin views as a Cold War relic and a threat to Russian security. For Biden, the crisis represents a major test of his ability to forge a united allied stance against Putin.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said about 8,500 U.S.-based troops are being put on alert for possible deployment _ not to Ukraine but to NATO territory in Eastern Europe as part of an alliance force meant to signal a unified commitment to deter any wider Putin aggression.
Russia denies it is planning an invasion. It says Western accusations are merely a cover for NATO’s own planned provocations. Recent days have seen high-stakes diplomacy that has failed to reach any breakthrough, and key players in the drama are making moves that suggest fear of imminent war. Biden has sought to strike a balance between actions meant to deter Putin and those that might provide the Russian leader with an opening to use the huge force he has assembled at Ukraine’s border.
Biden held an 80-minute video call with several European leaders on the Russian military buildup and potential responses to an invasion.
“I had a very, very, very good meeting -- total unanimity with all the European leaders," Biden told reporters at the White House. "We’ll talk about it later.”
The White House said the leaders emphasized their desire for a diplomatic solution to the crisis but also discussed efforts to deter further Russian aggression, “including preparations to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia for such actions as well as to reinforce security on NATO’s eastern flank.”
A day earlier, the State Department had ordered the families of all American personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv to leave the country, and it said that nonessential embassy staff could leave at U.S. government expense.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Oleg Nikolenko, said that U.S. decision was “a premature step” and a sign of “excessive caution.” He said Russia was sowing panic among Ukrainians and foreigners in order to destabilize Ukraine.
Britain said it, too, was withdrawing some diplomats and dependents from its Kyiv Embassy. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said an invasion was not inevitable but “the intelligence is pretty gloomy.”
Ordering even a modest number of American troops to be ready for potential deployment to Europe is meant to demonstrate U.S. resolve to support its NATO allies, particularly those in Eastern Europe who feel threatened by Russia and worry that Putin could put them in his crosshairs.
“What this is about is reassurance to our NATO allies,” Kirby told a Pentagon news conference, adding that no troops are intended for deployment to Ukraine, which is not a member of the alliance but has been assured by Washington of continued U.S. political support and arms supplies.
The Pentagon’s move, which was done at Biden’s direction and on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s recommendation, is being made in tandem with actions by other NATO member governments to bolster a defensive presence in Eastern European nations. Denmark, for example, is sending a frigate and F-16 warplanes to Lithuania; Spain is sending four fighter jets to Bulgaria and three ships to the Black Sea to join NATO naval forces, and France stands ready to send troops to Romania.
In a statement prior to Kirby’s announcement, NATO said the Netherlands plans to send two F-35 fighter aircraft to Bulgaria in April and is putting a ship and land-based units on standby for NATO’s Response Force.
NATO has not made a decision to activate the Response Force, which consists of about 40,000 troops from multiple nations. That force was enhanced in 2014 _ the year Russia seized Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula and intervened in support of pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine _ by creating a “spearhead force” of about 20,000 troops on extra-high alert within the larger Response Force.
If NATO does decide to activate the Response Force, the United States will contribute a range of military units, Kirby said.
“It is a NATO call to make,” Kirby said. “For our part, we wanted to make sure that we were ready in case that call should come. And that means making sure that units that would contribute to it are as ready as they can be on as short a notice as possible.”
He said some units will be ordered to be ready to deploy on as little as five days’ notice. Among the 8,500 troops, an unspecified number could be sent to Europe for purposes other than supporting the NATO Response Force, he said. Without providing details, he said they might be deployed “if other situations develop.”
Prior to the U.S. announcement, NATO issued a statement summing up moves already described by member countries. Restating them under the NATO banner appeared aimed at showing resolve. The West is ramping up its rhetoric in the information war that has accompanied the Ukraine standoff.
Russia has massed an estimated 100,000 troops near Ukraine’s border, demanding that NATO promise it will never allow Ukraine to join and that other actions, such as stationing alliance troops in former Soviet bloc countries, be curtailed.
NATO said Monday it is bolstering its deterrence in the Baltic Sea region.
The alliance will “take all necessary measures to protect and defend all allies,” Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. "We will always respond to any deterioration of our security environment, including through strengthening our collective defense.”
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was NATO and the U.S. who were behind the escalating tensions, not Russia.
“All this is happening not because of what we, Russia, are doing. This is happening because of what NATO, the U.S. are doing,” Peskov told reporters.
The NATO announcement came as European Union foreign ministers sought to put on their own fresh display of unity in support of Ukraine, and paper over concerns about divisions on the best way to confront any Russian aggression.
In a statement, the ministers said the EU has stepped up sanction preparations, and they warned that “any further military aggression by Russia against Ukraine will have massive consequences and severe costs.”
US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worry - World News
The Pentagon ordered 8,500 troops on higher alert to potentially deploy to Europe as part of a NATO “response force” amid growing concern that Russia could soon make a military move on Ukraine. President Joe Biden consulted with key European leaders, underscoring U.S. solidarity with allies there.
Assalamu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh to Muslim.
Good day to Others.
Good day to Others.
ATM I can't see neither Germany nor US stopping Russian invasion. Just read the comments on Reuter's tweet about US troop deployment;
Or This German researchers situation in radio program
Putin is very well aware how another war is unpopular in Western countries RN and He will use it to his advantage.
Or This German researchers situation in radio program
Putin is very well aware how another war is unpopular in Western countries RN and He will use it to his advantage.
McCool
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I mean they just deploy 8.5K against a Russian force of 120K. Clearly their presence is not to save Ukraine.
NATO likely already surrender Ukraine, or are planning this conflict as ways to weaken Russia through the shipment of arms, this strategy works in Syria where US and NATO supplied TOW ATGM successfully decimate the once mighty Syrian armored forces into dust.
The cost to benefit calculations might favor non-direct NATO intervention. I believe during the entire war (once happened) will see NATO surveillance assets providing real time battlefield intelligence to the Ukrainian commander on the ground, but not ground troops itself as Ukraine already field an army of close to 250K not including reservists.
Those shipments of weapons like the NLAW, Javelins and M141 are very useful in urban combat where their planners would likely draw the Russians into fighting.
NATO likely already surrender Ukraine, or are planning this conflict as ways to weaken Russia through the shipment of arms, this strategy works in Syria where US and NATO supplied TOW ATGM successfully decimate the once mighty Syrian armored forces into dust.
The cost to benefit calculations might favor non-direct NATO intervention. I believe during the entire war (once happened) will see NATO surveillance assets providing real time battlefield intelligence to the Ukrainian commander on the ground, but not ground troops itself as Ukraine already field an army of close to 250K not including reservists.
Those shipments of weapons like the NLAW, Javelins and M141 are very useful in urban combat where their planners would likely draw the Russians into fighting.
“The escalation of the Russia-Ukraine crisis is likely to lead to higher energy costs and a longer period of global inflation for many countries”
Gopinath, First Deputy Director of the IMF
Russian Federation Council warns Europe will not buy gas if Russia is removed from SWIFT
If this gets serious, neither the USA nor the EU countries can even breathe. That job is not possible after oil prices are 200-300 dollars.
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There is talk now of NATO readiness force having 40k guys on standby.
Still kind of drop in bucket (especially since we have little idea on exactly how much is teeth vs tail and the same w.r.t Russia....though with latter I assume its more teeth given the prep and logistics).
The larger messaging would not be lost on Russia though, that more countries are willing to pitch in against them w.r.t non-NATO member.
Going back to the 8.5k ....the other issue I see with US army specifically (even if they ramped this up by a magnitude) is they are behind behind the ball on high-intensity warfare.
US army has lots of bad COIN habits still to unlearn (which will take its own time) - bad habits that will get lots of troops killed fighting an artillery heavy enemy like the Russians.
US best assets for killing Russians at minimum cost are air assets, either land or carrier based. Their Army needs to sit this one out.
Huelague
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On which side is India?
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Neutral. We got no dog in this fight.
"We hope both sides come to peaceful agreement" etc etc.
Vladimir Putin to meet Italian CEOs about ‘expanding ties’ amid Ukraine tensions
The top executives of some of Italy’s largest companies including Pirelli, Generali and UniCredit are due to hold a video meeting with Vladimir Putin to discuss economic ties, even as Europe and the US threaten to impose punishing sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine.
The meeting on Wednesday, which the Kremlin said would cover “the potential for further expanding ties between the two countries’ businessmen” despite rising tensions over a possible confrontation in Ukraine. It also comes as transatlantic allies have laboured to agree a unified approach over the brewing crisis in Ukraine following missteps that exposed sharp differences over how to respond to Putin.
The date of the event — organised by the Italy-Russia chamber of commerce and the Italo-Russian business committee — was agreed in November with the knowledge of Italy’s foreign ministry. An Italian government official said the event was “a private initiative which does not envisage the participation of any personalities linked to public institutions”. Organisers said the event would go ahead as a way to maintain dialogue regardless of geopolitical tensions.
The Italo-Russian business committee, set up with the support of Moscow and Rome, is co-led by Marco Tronchetti Provera, chief executive of tyre manufacturer Pirelli, and Dmitry Konov, head of petrochemicals producer Sibur. Participants in Wednesday’s meeting are due to include Provera as well as Francesco Starace, Enel chief executive; Andrea Orcel, chief executive of banking group UniCredit; and Antonio Fallico, the Russia chair of Intesa Sanpaolo, according to a list seen by the Financial Times. Spokespersons for the companies confirmed the executives would be in attendance but declined to comment further on the meeting.
People close to ENI initially said chief Claudio Descalzi was due to attend, but an updated list of participants on Tuesday showed that the company’s vice-president would go instead. A spokesperson for ENI later said the company was no longer planning to participate, without providing a reason for the change. Generali chief executive Philippe Donnet also appeared in an earlier list of participants. After publication of the FT story on Tuesday evening, the company said chair Gabriele Galateri would instead attend.
Also listed were senior figures from Kremlin-run companies including oil monopoly Rosneft’s chief Igor Sechin, one of Putin’s closest allies, and Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund. “The participants did not express any doubts,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the FT before changes were made to the list of Italian participants. Dmitriev declined to comment.
Putin holds these meetings “because he expects that big business can weaken the west’s Russia policy”, said Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Centre. “This was his approach to Germany and the whole of Europe — right now it seems they see Italy as a weak link in the EU that he can influence so that they push to weaken European sanctions policy if there’s a serious military escalation in Ukraine.” The US has warned that Russia may be planning a renewed invasion of Ukraine after massing 106,000 troops near its border and allegedly plotting to install a puppet government.
Moscow has rejected the accusations but warned of “the most unpredictable and grave consequences” if the US does not agree to roll back Nato’s presence in eastern Europe and vow never to admit Ukraine to the transatlantic alliance. The White House has said the demands were unacceptable. Italy’s prime minister Mario Draghi, who on Monday joined Joe Biden’s videoconference with EU and Nato allies to discuss the western response to Russia’s military build-up, has said Europe’s business ties to Moscow make serious sanctions all but impossible. On December 15, he also played down the risk of Putin invading the country.
“It would not be the right moment” for the EU to give up Russian gas supplies, he said, adding: “Do we have missiles, ships, cannons, armies? At the moment we don’t and at the moment Nato has different strategic priorities.” The Kremlin said Putin and the executives planned to discuss “current topics of Russia and Italy’s trade, economic and investment relationship” as well as the potential for expanding ties. “Special attention will be paid to the potential for developing co-operation on energy, industry, finance and [green] technology,” it added. Italian officials and businessmen defended the event, which they said was part of a regular cycle of meetings between Putin and companies with big investments in Russia.
“Everyone’s objective is dialogue, not escalation, in this context there is no political stance on the part of businesses,” said one business leader who is planning to attend. Lucio Caracciolo, analyst and editor-in-chief of geopolitical magazine Limes, said: “There is the risk of economic sanctions that would negatively impact the Italian economy and the Italian businesses that trade with Russia, therefore the meeting is a way to keep dialogue channels open.”
Putin praised his phone conversations with Draghi last month. “With such a well-intentioned approach and [high] level of our relationship, Italy could play a role in normalising Russia-EU ties and even the negotiations that are going on now with Russia and Nato,” he said. Italy and Russia have enjoyed trade ties since to Putin’s friendship with former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in the 2000s. Trade volumes between Russia and Italy grew 54 per cent year on year from January to November 2021 to $27.5bn, according to the chamber of commerce. Though much of the total came from growth in Russian energy exports amid rising oil prices, Italian exports to Russia also rose 20 per cent, to $11bn.
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The US sent a very soft response to Russia about Russian demands but that won't be useful. Russia's accept my demands attitude was only a gesture. Russia will invade Ukraine regardless of what is written in the official answer.
BTW the US urged Russia not to disclose what is written in the official answer
BTW the US urged Russia not to disclose what is written in the official answer
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Russian Federation Council, foreign relations committee deputy president Dzhabarov;
The offer of the US and NATO is not acceptable Russia will prepare a proper answer in a few days. Other allies including China can join the consultations
The offer of the US and NATO is not acceptable Russia will prepare a proper answer in a few days. Other allies including China can join the consultations
Tonil
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Ofcourse because they couldn't come in further closer.. Radically they differed greatly
