NATO says Russian buildup in Belarus is biggest in 30 years

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By LORNE COOK and SUZAN FRASER

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed concern Thursday that Russia is continuing its military buildup around Ukraine, and that it has now deployed more troops and military equipment to Belarus than at any time in 30 years.

Meanwhile, more high-level diplomacy took place in Kyiv amid deep uncertainty about Russia’s intentions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a three-hour meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Ukrainian capital. French President Emmanuel Macron was due to hold phone talks with Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia now has more than 100,000 troops stationed near Ukraine’s northern and eastern borders, raising concern that Moscow might invade again, as it did in 2014, and destabilize the Ukrainian economy. Russian officials deny that an invasion is planned.

“Over the last days, we have seen a significant movement of Russian military forces into Belarus. This is the biggest Russian deployment there since the Cold War,” Stoltenberg told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, centre, his wife Olena, centre right, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, centre left, accompanied by his wife Emine, left, review the honour guard during a welcome ceremony ahead of their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-belarus-jens-stoltenberg-43c9151532de706a2edec5684dfcf07d

[Martin68]

1. Putin is playing a deadly game of Risk.

[EndlessWire]

2. Things don't change

All the ploys and tricks have been used before. It doesn't matter what conferences they participate in, they'll do what they want. No amount of promises will matter. Whatever they are planning, they don't have peace in mind. Maybe if they can bully Ukraine out of territory, they'll refrain, but otherwise, it doesn't look good. We'll see if their "exercises" ever end and they go home, like most nations do. If I were Belarus, I'd be worried about that.

Meanwhile, they are maneuvering off Ireland. Hmmm....

[denbot]

3. Internet cables, we cut Russia off from banking system after invading, and their first counter is..

They cut our internet data cables. The moment they go down we should destroy the Russian Navy. And yes I have two draft aged kids. And yes I am a veteran with service in the Persian Gulf and would go now if called.

[EndlessWire]

4. I don't know the location of the cables.

I have seen the approximate location of the Russian fleet off the coast of Ireland, and I don't blame them for being nervous. I think they are doing that to threaten England. It puts pressure on both the UK and Ireland. It's a statement of some kind. Could they cut the cables? I guess they could.

I see where they have probably a division up in the Artic near Alaska. No news about that, but I'd like to know about any changes there. That could be up to 25,000 troops. They are constantly probing the air space up there. Need to keep an eye on our back door.

They have almost surrounded Ukraine. The only reason they haven't gotten the entire country ringed is because of those two or three countries that are not on their side. This is beyond a training exercise. It can't be said enough that the purpose of NATO is to defend member countries from bullies like Russia. So, no wonder they do not want Ukraine to be allowed to join. Putin wants to take Ukraine.

Yeah, and no one understands why he didn't do it when the Orange Turd was in power. Searching for a plausible reason for that, but haven't found one. Maybe he was too busy anticipating tRump's reelection, and figured he had time. And, now look what he's doing.

No offense to Russian people, but we don't want that country. It would be better to have peace, but not appeasement. He starts it, we finish it.

Rather proud of Ireland for them speaking up and telling Russia to keep away.

[inganmistral]

5. Time for those kids to leave the nest anyway