Moscow, February 21
Amid rising tensions in eastern Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold an extraordinary meeting of the security council on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
The issues to be discussed in the meeting was not clarified by the spokesperson. When asked, if the meeting is regular, Peskov reportedly said, “Not a regular one.”
The recent tensions are a result of Russia’s build-up of around 150,000 troops just over the border from the Donbas region in the east, in Belarus to the north and Crimea to the south, which began in the autumn.
Russia claims the surge of forces has always been for military exercises and that it poses no threat to Ukraine or any other nation, but has refused to offer any other explanation for the biggest build-up of military might in Europe since the Cold War.
On Saturday, Russia’s Rostov Region had opened 15 border crossings for refugees from the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas. Later on the same day, Denis Pushilin, the head of pro-Russian separatist DPR announced that he had signed a decree on general mobilisation.
Yesterday, Putin and Macron held phone talks at the French side’s initiative. The presidents agreed on the trilateral group (Russia, Ukraine, OSCE – Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) talks on Ukraine to be held on Monday, according to media reports. The Russian president also reportedly confirmed to Macron the intention to withdraw troops from Belarus after the ongoing joint military exercise is over.
© 2022 ANI
The news is very grim at the moment. The Telegraph; a paper not normally known for hyperbole, reports the following right now:
“Russia will mount an invasion into Ukraine with parts of Vladimir Putin’s plan having already begun, Downing Street has warned.
However the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman cautioned that a “window for diplomacy” still existed.
He said: “Intelligence we are seeing suggests Russia intends to launch an invasion and President Putin’s plan has in effect already begun.”
The warning comes as American National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Russia is planning an “extremely violent” invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking to NBC News, Mr Sullivan said the US has “intelligence to suggest that there will be an even greater form of brutality” against Ukrainians, “to repress them, to crush them, to harm them.”
Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin will convene an extraordinary meeting of the Russian Security Council on Monday, his spokesman has said.”
Who will break the cycle of indifference and actually help Ukraine with troops on the ground and planes in the air?
Remember, regardless of the crap that Biden talks, it’s not WW3 if friendly countries simply help their ally defend itself; that in no way is an attack on Russia. How could it be?
Ukraine is not Russia.
Zelensky is also to blame. His arrogant behavior, not making any concessions, is insane. Ukraine is alone against a monster, and he talks as if Ukraine would be in Nato. He does not seem to care about ukrainian lives. I doubt he is ukrainian at all.
I don’t agree Mickey. What I’ve seen is a Ukrainian President trying to keep his country going into hysteria and at the same time working with however he can to get help. His speech at the Munich conference was powerful and direct.
Yes. But a nice speech won’t protect ukrainians. If you read Scradge’s comment you will understand. Putin is planning a massacre, it must not happen. I can’t recall if i had any sleep over in the past 48 hours, how much caffeine, tobacco and wine i consumed, but the situation is serious. I pray Putin will drop dead and this nightmare will stop.
Mickey, I don’t disagree with your observations only the extent Zelensky isn’t doing enough. Personally I blame the idiot in the White House for all of this. He holds back effective air defense and continues to appease Putin. Zelensky can only do so much. Keeping the population from going hysterical is key and yet continue to get the military support he needs. This fuck up is an Obama and Biden mess with help from Bush. IMHO