Russia can prepare a military operation against Ukraine
US intelligence services warn NATO allies. the New York Times reported Friday night.
According to a source in the Joe Biden administration, the Kremlin has yet to make decisions on the use of troops concentrated near the Russian-Ukrainian border, but their number and composition raises serious concerns about the intentions of the Russian leadership. On Friday, the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milli, spoke by telephone with General Valery Zaluzhny, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, during which they discussed the “alarming” activity of the Russian army in the area.
American and British intelligence services, the newspaper writes, that Vladimir Putin is considering a military operation to seize most of the territory of Ukraine. Putin, in their opinion, is annoyed by the ineffectiveness of the Minsk peace process. A large European gas supply could inspire hope that Europeans will hesitate to take drastic measures in response to a potential Russian military operation against Ukraine.
According to the newspaper, US officials are creating a joint action plan with European allies. An important part of this plan is sanctions.
According to Western sources, combat units of the Russian army and military equipment, including tanks, howitzers and Iskander missiles, have recently been concentrated near the city of Pavlovsk in the Voronezh region.