Ukraine-Russia tensions: the United States places 8,500 soldiers on alert

The United States continues to increase pressure on Moscow. According to the Pentagon spokesperson, 8,500 troops were placed on alert, and could be deployed as part of NATO troops in the event of an invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

President Joe Biden for his part spoke by videoconference Monday evening with the French, German, Italian, Polish and British leaders, as well as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Council President Charles Michel and the President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

“Total unanimity”

Joe Biden touted the “total unanimity” between Americans and Europeans, despite some dissonance earlier in the day. Brussels had judged excessive the decision of the United States to evacuate its diplomats from Ukraine.

According to a statement from the White House, the leaders have “emphasized their common desire for a diplomatic resolution“, but also mentioned their “preparations to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia“in case of invasion, and of”strengthen security on NATO’s eastern front“.

The participants “were all of the opinion that it is up to Russia to undertake visible de-escalation initiatives,” commented the German Chancellor, assuring that Moscow would suffer “very serious consequences“in the event of an invasion.

“Hysteria”

Russia has denounced a “hysteria“and accused the United States, NATO and Europe”d’exacerbate tensions through announcements and concrete actions“. “Instead of wasting its efforts looking for an answer to Russia’s non-existent invasion, Europe had better find a responsible and mature response to Russia’s proposals on security guarantees in Europe.“, declared the Russian ambassador in Ireland, Yury Filatov.

The Ukrainian president called on his people not to panic: “The session of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine has just been held. The conclusions of this session are not noisy decisions for the media, but very important conclusions for our society and Ukrainian citizens. They are very simple: everything is under control, there is no reason to panic“, thus assured Volodymyr Zelensky.

Despite this new rise in pressure, Westerners are still trying to find a diplomatic solution. According to AFP, citing a European source, a new meeting would thus be planned between the Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

Russia demands a written commitment on the non-enlargement of NATO to Ukraine and Georgia and demands a withdrawal of the forces and armaments of the Atlantic Alliance from the countries of Eastern Europe which have joined the NATO after 1997, notably from Romania and Bulgaria. “Non-negotiable” demands for Westerners.

Gas and oil

In the event of an invasion, Westerners have assured that they are preparing sanctions of unprecedented severity. The reduction in gas and oil purchases, which represent respectively 43% and 20% supplying the EU, and which largely finance the Russian budget, is on the table, a European source told AFP, but the subject divides the European Union.

A big unknown remains the position of the very young German coalition government in the event of an escalation with Russia. Berlin refuses to deliver weapons to Ukraine, unlike the United States, to the great displeasure of Kiev.

On the American side, Joe Biden plans to ban Russian banks from using the dollar, the main currency of international trade, which would deal a very severe blow to the country’s finance and real economy.

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