U.S. warns Russia as Kremlin talks about war threat in Ukraine

There is no Ukraine threat to Russia. This is an excuse for Russia to invade in “self-defense.” It’s the same playbook the Soviets used to invade Poland and Finland.

Any counter-measures should start with equipping and training Ukraine to get them to NATO standards.

Next the Russians should be told that they will be completely cut off from the SWIFT financial system for both the government and all private businesses residing in China.

Remember when Ukraine gave up what was then the world’s 4th largest nuclear arsenal in exchange for security guarantees? Russia is breaking its word and has to be held to account.

Is winter time and covid is still pretty active in Russia. Not to mention it is also preparing to send athletes to the olympic. I seriously doubt Russia is interested in doing anything reckless. In my opinion this is US and EU constantly trying to pick a fight with Russia by massing troops near the borders. US need to back off and mind it's own business. You cannot accuse someone of doing anything unless that it's proven. All this accusing and stoking up fear is nothing more than a bluff and trying to divert the citizens away from the mismanagament of the economic and handling of the vaccination progress.

@Hiro Russia is threat both to the Ukraine and western nations within the EU don't be so naive.

The US needs to back off. So funny.

@dan, i disagree. I am just saying is highly unlikely that Russia now of all time want to invade Ukraine as the US has been claiming for weeks. Invading and starting a war now is crazy and suicidal. The economic backlash from this would be beyond repair.

The way i see it, Russia might be secretly wanting to meddle in Ukraine affairs to gain more benefits for their country, but invading is impossible. That seem so unlikely because the losses outweigh the benefits.

Plus EU has been saying Russia is a danger for 7 decades. But they still do business with them and EU is their biggest trade partner. Especially when it comes to natural gas.

Were I Mr. Biden I would deploy significant airpower to Poland and Romania and then subtly remind the Russians what happened to their Wagner boys on the night of February 7, 2018 at a US Army guarded Conoco refinery outside Deir el-Zour Syria. 40 US soldiers and a lot of airpower defeated a battalion of Russian mercenaries killing several hundred without any losses or even anyone wounded. I would also let it leak out that airborne forces at Fort Bragg were on alert with C-17s visible to their satellites standing by ready to load troops.

Ok, so that means nothing will happen. Knew it.

The way i see it, Russia might be secretly wanting to meddle in Ukraine affairs to gain more benefits for their country, but invading is impossible. That seem so unlikely because the losses outweigh the benefits.

It didn't stop them from invading and annexing the Crimea.

Plus EU has been saying Russia is a danger for 7 decades. But they still do business with them and EU is their biggest trade partner. Especially when it comes to natural gas.

The Germans are cowards. Of all the European leaders one would think Angela Merkel having grown up in East Germany would be hard core anti-Russian but instead it almost seems she suffers from Stockholm Syndrome and likes the Russians. I was hoping the new oil and gas fields being developed in the Mediterranean Sea off Israel, Cypress and Greece would ween Europe off Russian gas but competing claims to the resource by Turkey, Turkish controlled Northern Cypress and Egypt are delaying development.

If it wasn't for Churchill with his skimming to make himself look important none of this would be happening now. Britten and US should look back in to their respective histories and reflect on mistakes that have been made. Look at Iran, Israel, Palestine.

At the breakup of the Soviet Union the Ukrainians got independence. But now Mother Russia wants to reverse that one. Claims of NATO aggression are spurious at best, in fact a lie. NATO countries are not interested in territory acquisition. Russia is. It gives wood to Putin.

Why are there 90,000 Russian troops along the border with Ukraine? Ukraine has no desire to expand eastwards. NATO has no reason or plans to go east.

Russia wants to take over the Russian language speaking areas of east Ukraine, plain and simple. She has every reason to expand westwards, carving out a large chunk of Ukraine, and has already set a recent precedent issuing strong denials of any intent, followed by invasion of Crimea.

The temptation for Russia to form a land corridor to Crimea is too great. How can anyone trust the Russian word?

@GdTokyo

It’s the same playbook the Soviets used to invade Poland and Finland

And what playbooks did USA use to invade Vietnam and Iraq?

Any counter-measures should start with equipping and training Ukraine to get them to NATO standards

Yeah, do it. After the Georgian army disappeared into thin air in August 2008 it presented the Russians a lot of new NATO equipment. It seems the Ukraine wants to do the same stupid thing Georgia did in 2008. The result will be the same.

Next the Russians should be told that they will be completely cut off from the SWIFT

I hear this talk from 2014. As Chuck Norris said in one of his movies, "Stop talking and do it". And ban purchases of Russian rocket engines, NASA will be delighted. Forbid Boeing to buy titan from Russia (it buys there a third of titan it needs), it's just what Boeing needs right now. And forbid buying millions of gallons of Russian oil to keep U.S. gas prices at a reasonable level. Yeah, make America happy again.

@dan

Russia is threat both to the Ukraine

The only threat to Ukraine is its government(s). To run down a country that in early 90s had an economy about the size of France to the present level of half-dead economy living off handouts from IMF, that's quite an accomplishment. Ukraine now is among the most impoverished European countries, worse is only Bulgaria which the EU admiited in for cannibalisation. The same faith expects Ukraine.

and western nations within the EU don't be so naive

Tell such countries as Germany, Austria or Italy they are "naive" because they want to have normal economic relations with Russia. Yeah, the Nord Stream gas pipelines are such horrible threat!

@Desert Tortoise

Were I Mr. Biden I would deploy significant airpower to Poland and Romania

F-35s which still are not fully operational will be there? If the Serbs were able to shoot down a F-117 in 1999 with a Vietnam war era SAM, I think the Russians have much more capable systems do deal with what USAF has now.

@Hiro

I am just saying is highly unlikely that Russia now of all time want to invade

糠に釘だ。We have a sort of "I hate Russia" club here with several very distinguished members who see Putin's machinations everywhere.

Very misleading style of "news" as reality is very very different folks.

Russia who complains about proposed NATO deployments of missile systems on NATO territory is sitting 90,000 troops withing 4 hours of the border with Ukraine. It has also deployed missile systems in the Southern Kuril's right next to Japan. Seems it is ok for Russia to deploy anywhere but if others do the same they cry provocation and danger.

We see through Putin and his ambitions of territorial expansion. They go well with China's ambitions of territorial expansion. Unfortunately it is all too similar to past people and events like Hitler and Stalin's territorial expansion desires 1939-40. Russia seems to like jumping on board when there is territory to be gained.

A really bad future for the world. Covid, climate change and War on two fronts. Lets see if China eventually turns on Russia like Germany did.

First off, never go to war with Russia in or adjacent to their backyard. Second, if you are going to war with them, you don't do it just as winter is arriving. All this talk of imminent war is saber-rattling and posturing. There are also a lot of trial balloons being put up right now to see responses to several 'what if' scenarios.

I am really not interested in politics anymore. This J.T. commenting platform seems to be designed at stitching both sides of the isle after reading some of these comments. Harsh!

I am in total shock how extreme some these comments are.

But my thoughts, as a former campaign manager. I had my fill of politicking.

Dems are the worst to manage. Straight up. Real truth. All shady as.......But has always been that way.

U.S. issued a strong warning to Russia to stay away from Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at their meeting in Stockholm on Thursday that “if Russia decides to pursue confrontation, there will be serious consequences," adding that “the best way to avert a crisis is through diplomacy.”

A quick research into U.S of S. Blinken. "The warning". Yeah, Okay Pee Wee. (WEAK GUY) How he got appointed will never know. Come on Joe you can do better than this guy.....

I bet "The warning" sent Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov laughing his you know what off on the phone with Vlad. Strong consequences. I about fell out of my chair. "The warning" I am dying here.

head of ukrainian state need to talk to own citizens in east part of his country first.

discuss,solve problems,do not repeat same mistakes again.if he is that "brave".is he is a "man".

instead of that he is position of american poodle.

without any courage to discuss with its own citizens living in Donbass and Lugansk area.

problem of almost civil war in Ukraine its ukrainian internal problem,to be solved inside of Ukraine by ukraine citizens.

its job and duty of president of Ukraine to do very asap.