Ukraine: Gen. Keane sends warning about Russia-US cyberwar
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As Russian troops approach almost 200,000 in number on the border of its southern neighbour, there are pockets of fighting in the Donbas region. Many fear an invasion is imminent. Moscow has repeatedly denied it wants to start a war in spite of western intelligence reports stating repeatedly an invasion will happen.
Meeting this morning in Brussels for their regular EU Council, officials will dedicate the majority of their time discussing the ongoing crisis.
Hoping to gain an understanding of the Ukrainian side of the dilemma, EU Foreign Affairs head Josep Borrell has invited Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to attend the meeting.
One potential topic will be Ukraine’s desire to join NATO.
Although the alliance has an open-door policy for membership, the Kremlin has insisted, in order to de-escalate tension, guarantees must be set blocking Ukraine from ever joining the military group.
Georgia has also shown an expression of interest in joining, making Moscow nervous as to NATO’s intention in the region.
Many European nations, as well as the US, has warned Moscow any invasion against Ukraine would lead to severe economic consequences in the form of sanctions.
The EU leaders meeting could also discuss the notion of sanctions should an emergency crisis meeting take place in the near future.
With the EU widely in agreement, diplomacy should lead the plan of action, and Emmanuel Macron seemingly adopting the role of broker diplomat, any sanctions proposed will also likely meet rapid approval by the Council.
As part of Mr Macron’s efforts, a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Mr Putin has been accepted in principle.
Conditions prior to such talks would require Russia to abstain from an invasion of Ukraine.
The proposal was announced by the French presidency after two phone calls between Mr Macron and Mr Putin, which went on for almost three hours in total.
The second exchange happened in the early hours of Monday Moscow time and followed a 15-minute conversation Mr Macron had with Mr Biden.
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Mr Macron’s office said details of the possible summit would be discussed during a meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday.
In a statement confirming the proposal, the White House also said Russia appeared to be “continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon”, and the US was ready to impose “swift and severe consequences” should it happen.
Adding to the US view, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said: “Everything we are seeing suggests this is deadly serious and we are on the brink of an invasion.
“Until the tanks are actually rolling, and the planes are flying, we will use every opportunity and every minute we have to see if diplomacy can still dissuade President Putin from carrying this forward.”
Mr Putin agreed on the need to “prioritise a diplomatic solution” to the crisis, according to the French presidency.
It said “intense work” would be carried out to enable a meeting “in the next few hours” aiming for a ceasefire.
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Mr Putin’s commitments to Mr Macron were a “welcome sign” he might still “engage in finding a diplomatic solution”.
But Mr Johnson called on Mr Putin to “step back from his current threats and withdraw troops from Ukraine’s border”.
However, US media continue to insist an invasion is a more likely outcome.
A CBS News report stated US intelligence agencies had information Russian commanders on the ground had received orders to proceed with an invasion and were now making specific battle plans on how to attack.
The report said an invasion would begin with a cyber assault followed by a campaign of missiles and airstrikes before ground units attempted to take the capital Kiev.
Ukrainian officials have themselves repeatedly downplayed fears Russia is on the verge of an invasion but has stated they would defend themselves should such an event happen.
Ukraine’s Defence Minister Alexei Reznikov said an attack “tomorrow or the day after tomorrow” was unlikely as no Russian “strike groups” had yet formed near the border.
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