Though Russia is denying the reports, it has been confirmed that Russian troops have entered Ukraine. Blinken Seeks to Reassure Ukraine as Russia Moves Troops in Region
As fears grew about Moscow’s deployment of soldiers to Belarus, which shares a border with Ukraine, the Biden administration’s top diplomat attempted to reassure Ukraine’s president of undivided Western backing, but also cautioned that Russia may invade.
At a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, “We have made it very plain to Moscow that if it chooses to repeat aggression against Ukraine, it will be confronted and would suffer very serious repercussions.”
Mr. Blinken told U.S. Embassy personnel earlier on Wednesday, “I firmly, greatly hope that we can maintain this on a diplomatic and peaceful route, but ultimately that is going to be President Putin’s choice.”
The Biden administration has authorized $200 million in fresh defensive military aid to Ukraine, according to a senior US State Department source, who also stated on Wednesday that the US “will continue to give Ukraine with the support it needs.” Despite this, the administration has refrained from delivering offensive weaponry to Ukraine and has said that it would not intervene militarily in the nation.
“We need support here to take extremely rapid measures to upgrade the army,” Mr. Zelensky added, “particularly in such circumstances—difficult times.”
The tensions over Ukraine are part of a broader dispute between Moscow and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization over security in Eastern Europe, with US officials saying this week that Russian troops and weaponry are moving into Belarus, potentially putting them in a position to be deployed to Ukraine. This is in addition to the 100,000 Russian soldiers estimated by US and European authorities to be stationed near Russia’s Ukrainian border.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky chats with Antony Blinken during a meeting in Kyiv on Wednesday.
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According to Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, Belarusian and Russian military are conducting drills and taking steps “to neutralize threats” to the Union State’s boundaries. The Union State is an alliance that ties Russia and Belarus in a variety of fields, from economics to defense.
Mr. Fomin said that the troops would be prepared for “activities not just within their limits of duty,” but also for threats that may come from any direction.
He didn’t say how many soldiers will be engaged in the drills, which would begin in the first phase on Feb. 9.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday that joint drills will be held on the country’s western border as well as its southern flank, which borders Ukraine.
After confrontations over cybercrime, ambassador expulsions, and a migration crisis in Belarus, a military buildup near the Ukrainian border is straining relations between Russia and the United States. The Wall Street Journal examines why the rift between Washington and Moscow is widening. Michelle Inez Simon (photo composite/video)
Mr. Fomin said that 12 Su-35 fighter planes, as well as two divisions of the S-400 antiaircraft missile system, would be deployed to Belarusian territory to guarantee the Russian-Belarusian union’s air defense is operational. He also said that the Pantsir-S antiaircraft missile and gun battalions will be redeployed.
“There can be no mistake about Belarus’s position as an increasingly disruptive operator in the area,” a senior US administration official told reporters on Tuesday.
The source cited a number of events to highlight Belarus’ efforts, including the current migration issue near its border with Poland, which the official said Belarus “created,” and the forced diversion of a European passenger flight last year to arrest an opposition activist on board.
Military vehicles arrive in Belarus on a Russian cargo train for training.
Getty Images/Handout/Agence France-Presse
The timing of Russian army moves into Belarus is “notable,” according to a senior US administration official, and “raises worries that Russia may seek to station soldiers in Belarus under the pretext of cooperative military exercises in order to possibly invade Ukraine from the north.”
According to a January assessment by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, “If Minsk agreed to the use of its road and rail networks, the Russian army might outflank Ukrainian forces surrounding Kiev and attack them from behind.”
On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Russia has no intention of taking any aggressive action against Ukraine, including “attacking or invading” its neighbor. Moscow, on the other hand, regards Ukraine’s future NATO membership as a danger, he added.
Mr. Ryabkov advised authorities to concentrate on diplomacy rather than the risk for violence when it came to military operations in Belarus.
“I promise you,” Putin told the Valdai Debate Club, a Moscow-based discussion group, “there is no cause to be frightened about anything in connection with these exercises.”
The envoy also reiterated Moscow’s position that the United States and NATO are to responsible for Europe’s fragile security situation. “Among other things, Washington and NATO utilize Ukraine as a weapon of pressure on Russia,” he stated.
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The Kremlin has asked that NATO withdraw from Eastern Europe and refrain from adding new members such as Ukraine. Officials from the United States and NATO have rejected such requests, but in a series of talks last week, Washington attempted to find some common ground on a few security matters.
Mr. Blinken said he is open to addressing matters that would improve everyone’s security on a reciprocal basis when asked whether the US will talk with Russia on Moscow’s core worries about NATO.
Mr. Blinken will see his German, French, and British colleagues in Berlin on Thursday after his stay in Ukraine. The US is attempting to get an agreement with its partners on possible financial penalties on Russia if it invades Ukraine.
According to administration sources, the US is planning to impose penalties on four pro-Russian operatives working in Ukraine. According to the Biden administration, Russia is contemplating employing operatives in Ukraine to conduct a provocation that might serve as a pretext for invasion.
Mr. Blinken will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday to discuss last week’s discussions between their deputies and other officials.
Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, said on Wednesday that the conversations between Messrs. Lavrov and Blinken were significant, but he refused to elaborate on the details of the talks.
“Such meetings, which will take occur on Friday, are highly crucial in light of the recent discussions and as the US and NATO shape their replies,” Mr. Peskov told reporters. “At this moment, we’re not going to say anything.” The agenda is clear. Let’s put it off until Friday.”
—This piece was co-written by Vivian Salama in Kyiv.
William Mauldin and Ann M. Simmons may be reached at [email protected] and [email protected], respectively.
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