Russia doesn’t need to tell the world that it has already started invading Ukraine – little by little. The signs tell it all. According to the NATO chief, Russia is planning an extensive Ukraine invasion.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
NATO chief General Jens Stoltenberg said that all signs from Russia suggest extensive Ukraine invasion anytime soon. As Russia claims, they didn’t withdraw their forces but added more troops. It only means that it’s getting ready to attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin personally supervised the strategic nuclear forces. The White House indicted Russian troops mobilized near Ukraine’s border, advancing and “ready to strike.”
G7 group foreign ministers of wealthy nations noted they saw no proof of Russia decreasing its military activity in the area. The country designated the military establishment while asking NATO to keep Ukraine from joining the alliance. Moscow claimed it was withdrawing, but the allies said otherwise because the accumulation was rising.
Nuclear Drills Indicate Russia’s Ukraine Invasion Imminent
Russia’s armed forces’ nuclear drills have involved troop expansion in the previous four months. The West estimated the number to be 150,000 or more to Ukraine’s northern, eastern, and southern parts.
According to U.S.-based Maxar Technologies, Russian troops have moved support equipment and armored personal carrier to the site near the country’s border. It also includes battle group deployment of tanks and new helicopters.
False Flag Operations
On Saturday, pro-Russian separatists said they unmasked Kyiv’s plan to forcefully occupy territory they control in eastern Ukraine. At the same time, they trodded a man they claim was a Ukrainian spy.
Ukrainian capital authorities immediately dismissed the alleged plan as false and dismissed spy allegations in the past. They contradicted planning any kind of attack to invade and refused to talk about false flag operations.
Donbas region holds two Russian-controlled territories, the Donetsk and Luhansk. These two regions received violent bombardments, gas line explosions, and car bombings on Friday. Because of the dangerous situation, children, women, and elderlies evacuated the area.
Donbas’ Kremlin-backed separatist leaders doubtfully alleged the Ukrainian army started the open aggression. Putin unfoundedly blamed Ukrainians in Donbas of causing genocide in the country’s eastern part.
On the other hand, the US believes that the incident is the so-called false flag operations that Russia might use to establish Russia’s Ukraine invasion of the east.
“I believe Putin’s ultimate aim, or one of his ultimate aims, is to formally put the Russian flag in the occupied territories of Donbas. It would be a relatively low-cost exercise that would be presented as another geopolitical victory,” said Vladimir Milov, former Russian Deputy Minister of Energy.
He added that occupying a huge part of Ukrainian territory, including Kyiv, Russia would need 300,000-400,000 full-scale combat-ready troops.
Punishment for Ukraine Invasion
Germany and the United Kingdom are in unison that Russia must receive punishment should it pursue invading Ukraine.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed for more diplomacy. This is to obstruct Russian leader Vladimir Putin from organzing Ukraine’s invasion and strong responses in case Russia attack.
“The Prime Minister and Chancellor Scholz resolved to redouble efforts to reach a diplomatic resolution to prevent unnecessary bloodshed. Should President Putin make the catastrophic miscalculation to further breach Ukrainian sovereignty, allies must put in place a comprehensive response which strikes at the heart of Russia’s strategic interests,” said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Meanwhile, Germany’s foreign ministry asked German citizens to leave Ukraine as soon as possible. On the other hand, Lufthansa suspends regular flights to Kyiv and Odessa cities. Flight suspension will start on Monday until the end of February.
The national carrier said that it would operate a restricted number of flights to the two cities. They will have scheduled flights on Saturday and Sunday before discontinuing their services because of the current situation. Lviv’s western city flights would continue. Lufthansa remains connected with national and international authorities.
World Bank Prepares $350 Million for Ukraine Provision
The World Bank Group confirmed that it’s preparing a $350 million provision to Ukraine by the end of March. It’s a part of the plan to help the country with short and long-term financing.
On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with World Bank President David Malpass in Munich. They discussed the group’s continuous support for the Ukrainians and the country’s economy.
Both leaders likewise talked about pipeline projects for Ukraine. It includes infrastructure, energy efficiency, railways, and bolstering the economy and employment positions in eastern Ukraine. World Bank will issue initial funds which will be followed by additional budget support and more rehabilitation, encompassing energy and climate sector.
World Bank and International Monetary Fund said on Monday that they relocated their Ukraine staff for the meantime due to the rising concern of Russia’s Ukraine invasion. In the past year, the World Bank adjourned operations with many countries with organized coups, including Sudan and Myanmar.
Image Source: Markiv Mykhailo/WikimediaCommons (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International)
