1 year agoSecDef: I spoke today with Polish Defense Minister @mblaszczak about Russia's military buildup around Ukraine. Our continuing close security relationship with Poland is critical to deterrence along @NATO's Eastern Flank.
1 year agoOver two dozen Russian diplomats forced to leave embassy in Washington at request of State Department, ambassador says
1 year agoHead of office of President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak at press-conference says audit of Minsk agreements, Normandy Four agreements were made. Confirmed unconditional ceasefire. Confirmed different interpretation of Minsk agreement between Russia and Ukraine
Putin's deputy Kozak: next meeting of "Normandy Four" in 2 weeks in Berlin. Main issue - different interpretation of Minsk agreements, but all parties unconditionally agreed on ceasefire
Normandy Four meeting at advisors level ended in Paris after 8.5 hours
Sen. @ChrisMurphyCT says he is "skeptical" that conflict with Russia over Ukraine can be solved with diplomacy
1 year agoThe ruse of military "exercises" can be used to launch an attack, Sec Gen Stoltenberg recalls from the buildup ahead of the annexation of Crimea. Russia has said it wants more transparency with exercises. NATO says the alliance is ready anytime
.@NATO's @jensstoltenberg calls Russian deployment of combat-ready troops, S400 missile defense system and aircraft to Belarus is "significant". Also notes Russia has history of using exercises "as a pretext, a disguise for aggressive military actions"
"Tensions are increasing" because of Russia, per @NATO's @jensstoltenberg. "We see also more troops not only in and around Ukraine but also in Belarus. Highly capable, combat ready troops" & advanced systems, like the S400
Are we closer to war? "Tensions are increasing. Russia continues its military buildup. And we see also more troops, not only in and around Ukraine, but also now in Belarus, where Russia is in the process of deploying thousands of combat troops." - Stoltenberg
Its "no secret we are far apart," says @jensstoltenberg of NATO and Russia. He says that's why it's even more important to look at proposals and identify areas to work together
"This is about respecting nations and their right to choose their own path" per @NATO's @jensstoltenberg, says of Ukraine, Georgia and potential membership "That is a principle Russia has subscribed to many times"
To deploy the NATO Response Force, Stoltenberg says, "we need a decision" by the North Atlantic Council. "That decision will be made if necessary and we will deploy if necessary"
1 year ago"While we are working for a good solution," says NATO Sec Gen Stoltenberg, "we are also prepared for the worst." "We have plans in place we could execute on very short notice." Some of those plans date from Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2014
"This is about respecting the right of self-determination" per @NATO's @jensstoltenberg, asked about Ukraine
NATO Secretary General: Russia must recognize the right of every country to define its military alliances
"We will take all necessary measures to protect and defend all allies" per @NATO SecGen @jensstoltenberg
.@NATO calls on Russia to withdraw forces from Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova where @SecGen @jensstoltenberg says they are deployed without consent
On European security, @jensstoltenberg says "we are prepared to listen to Russia's concerns & engage in a real conversation on how to uphold & strengthen the fundamental principlesthis including the right of each nation to choose its own security arrangements"
"We face a critical moment in Euro-Atlantic security," NATO Secretary General says, adding the alliance has conveyed its written responses to Russia "in parallel with the United States"
1 year agoMilitary convoy filmed in Rostov region
"It is not a formal negotiating document," @SecBlinken says of US response to Russia. He says @POTUS was intimately involved in drafting of it over recent days as were allies
On the prospect of sanctions against Putin, @SecBlinken says "As the president said, everything is on the table"
US has "absolute confidence in German solidarity" said @SecBlinken when asked about Berlin ruling out sending lethal weapons to Ukraine
Blinken: more deliveries [of weapons to Ukraine] expected in days to come
In response to a question from @APDiploWriter on the contents of the document sent to Russia, @SecBlinken replies: "It reiterates what we said publicly for many weeks and for many years" that we'll uphold @NATO principles and "the commitment that we're bound to"
Blinken says USG may not be able to help Americans leave in the event of a conflict
Blinken says that while State Dept has taken steps to shrink US diplomatic footprint in Ukraine, and has urged Americans to leave, embassy remains operational
"It remains up to Russia to decide how to respond. We're ready either way" - Secretary Blinken
Blinken says US response included proposals for joint US-Russian steps related to transparency on troops and exercises, and steps on missiles in Europe and a potential follow-on to New START
Secretary of State Blinken says he'll be briefing members of Congress about the written responses to Russia. He says they don't intend to release the document publicly because they want the discussions to remain private and in good faith. He hopes Russia does the same
Blinken says US written reply to Russia "sets out a serious diplomatic path should Russia choose it." Says US did not compromise on principles regarding Ukrainian sovereignty and ability to join NATO. Proposed other arms control measures to de-escalate tensions
.@SecBlinken says Ambassador Sullivan has delivered the US response to Moscow's demands to the Russians
Moscow received US written response to its security proposals - Russian Foreign Ministry
Counselor of the Department of State Derek Chollet: Called Hungarian State Secretary Péter Sztáray to discuss our diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tension caused by Russia's military build-up and continued aggression against Ukraine. We also spoke about Hungary's contributions to @NATO and our military & security cooperation
.@PentagonPresSec notes Russia has moved "..logistics and sustainment and medical support and aviation support, I mean, it's the whole combined force, combined arms approach is how I would describe it." (US was watching closely for signs of this)
US hands over response to security proposals to Russia, - Bloomberg reports
The US Ambassador arrived at the Russian Foreign Ministry
A Western intelligence official says Russia has brought in many of the enablers it was lacking, including medical and logistics, to carry out a potential military operation against Ukraine
Britain is in talks to send thousands of extra troops to Eastern Europe *before* any potential Russian invasion of Ukraine, reports CNN. US and a handful of Nato allies (including UK) are reportedly considering sending a 1,000-strong battlegroup each
1 year agoIran chief negotiator Bagheri met Russian chief negotiator this morning and EU's Mora in the evening. Bagheri will later have a session with EU and E3 chief negotiators later in the days. Experts are also meeting in parallel
The Russian Ambassador to Ireland has said that he would be willing to meet groups of fisherman to negotiate a settlement
1 year agoTrucks with missiles containers filmed in Vladimir region
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier today that depending on the content of this response, which he said is "expected this week," Russian officials will prepare "proposals for the president [Putin] regarding our next steps
The Biden admin is set to send Russia a written response to concerns Moscow has publicly released & US proposals on a path forward as soon as today, but the response is unlikely to characterize the likelihood of Ukraine joining NATO in the short term
1 year agoMilitary convoy filmed in Smolensk
Boris Johnson has warned Putin that if Russia invades Ukraine, the UK will look to contribute to "any new Nato deployment to protect our allies in Europe"
Germany to ship 5000 military helmets to Ukraine amid tensions with Russia, German Defence Minister Lambrecht says
Lavrov: Russia will not publish the written response that Washington will provide on security guarantees at its request
1 year agoMilitary convoy filmed in Rostov-on-Don
The meeting of political advisers of the "Normandy Four" began in Paris, according to the Russian embassy
1 year agoPutin held video conference with heads of big Italian businesses
1 year agoMilitary echelon with main battle tanks in Kaluga region
Russia's Lavrov says if we do not receive a constructive answer from the west on our security demands, Moscow will take appropriate measures
Lavrov: Russia is not ready to hold talks with the European Union on Ukraine
Russian Foreign Ministry: the evolution of the military situation in Europe and the world has reached a dangerous point
1 year agoRussian Logistic vehicles passing through Osipovichi, Belarus
1 year agoVideo of T-72B3 tanks and BMP-3 from the Southern Military District's 150th Motorized Rifle Division moving to the Kadamovsky and Kuzminsky training areas as part of the district combat readiness check
Foreign sec @trussliz says "we've ruled nothing out" re sanctions against Russia in event of incursion in Ukraine
Russian police have added Navalny's brother Oleg to a national wanted list
Head of Russian Federation council accused Ukraine in preparations of military operation to restore control over occupied parts of Donbas. Ukraine repeatedly in last days refused such claims, reiterating only peaceful solution exists
1 year agoVideo of readiness check of Iskander units in Marshala Zhukova town and Boguchar
1 year agoAt least 3 @FinnishAirForce F/A-18 Hornets flying in formation with United States Air Force KC-135R over Finland yesterday: 62-3551 as QID11
Anonymous data of 48 million Russian certificates of vaccination against covid from the application "Gosuslugi STOP Coronavirus" put up for sale on the darknet
US warns Belarus of 'decisive' response if assists Russian invasion of Ukraine
Russian Northern Fleet launched exercise with 30 vessels, 140 vehicles, 20 aircraft and 1200 servicemen
1 year agoThis afternoon, a Norwegian P-3C Orion followed a Russian group of vessels off the Norwegian coast. The Russians sailed legally in international waters, but Norway continuously follows all movements in the High North
.@StateDeptSpox Says written responses have not yet been transmitted to Russia but noted that Ukraine was consulted and given a preview of what will be in the report. "There will be no surprises," he said
1 year agoProductive meeting of Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs @WBHoekstra and @jensstoltenberg, exchanging views on Russia's unprovoked military buildup in & around Ukraine, importance of NATO-EU cooperation and the upcoming NATO summit in Madrid
1 year agoThe elements of the S-300V SAM system reportedly in Bryansk
.@JosepBorrellF during a public event talking about Europe's dependency on Russian gas as a factor in the current crisis & refers to Trump's administration proposal on Europe buying gas from the US and the European reluctance about this back then
1 year agoMilitary echelon filmed in Arzamas
1 year agoMilitary convoy at Yelets-Oryol highway
Kirby characterizes the Russian troop buildup as "consistent — not dramatic" increases in troop presence along the Ukrainian border and in Belarus over the past weeks. No specific action named as the catapult for the decision to place U.S. troops on high alert
"We're watching this very closely. We have seen a consistent accumulation of combat power" per @PentagonPresSec on Russia firepower arrayed along border with Ukraine "Multiple domain capability. It's the whole combined force"
US assessment is that a Russian invasion of Ukraine "remains imminent," WH Press Sec Psaki says
1 year agoMilitary convoy near Klintsy to Belarus
Secretary Blinken:I had a productive conversation with UK Foreign Secretary @trussliz on the importance of a coordinated response to Russian aggression on its border with Ukraine and on countering Beijing's economic coercion
German Chancellor: Russia's threats to Ukraine will cost it dearly
.@jensstoltenberg tells @amanpour that NATO will send written responses to Russia later this week in coordination with the US. "We are finalizing at NATO the proposals, the written document we will send to them later this week. We will do that in parallel with [the] United States"
House Dems want to expedite a floor vote on a massive Ukraine defense bill that would dramatically increase US security assistance and lay groundwork for major sanctions on Russia - hastening a much more aggressive posture with o much room for debate
Washington warns Russia against using fuel supplies as a weapon in the current crisis over Ukraine
Russian troops of Southern Military District and Western Military District launched combat readiness check, to last until 29th January
The US is working with countries and producers in Middle East, Asia and N. Africa to ensure Europe has enough energy supplies in case Russia cuts off supply, US official says, painting a united front on sanctions amid concerns about effect on gas and oil
Prime Minister @BorisJohnson signals UK will deploy more British forces to support NATO in Europe if Russia launches any new invasion of Ukraine. He tells MPs UK would "look to contribute to any new NATO deployments to protect our allies in Europe"
1 year agoRussian military hardware, Footage reportedly shot near the city of Safonovo in Smolensk region, train heading towards city of Dorogobuzh
1 year agoSoldiers of the Guards Tank Army of the Western Military District in the Moscow Region have begun scheduled exercises to test combat readiness
1 year agoRussian military convoy near Budaevo, Smolensk Oblast, heading West. Exact Geolocation
Russia suspends Vienna Document verification activities 24.01-28.02.2022 for Covid reasons
Latvian MoD: Russia's Defence Ministry declines Latvian OSCE inspection in Russia and publishes false statements about arrival of Latvian inspectors
5 casualties as result of grenade explosion at party in Arseniev, Primorskiy Krai of Russia. 1 dead
1 year agoMilitary at Makhachkala railway station
Launchers of the Yars mobile missile system entered combat patrol routes during the Strategic Missile Forces exercises in the Ivanovo Region
Russia army has started making combat readiness inspections in its southern military district, which borders Ukraine, with more than 6,000 troops
The Russian military has deployed additional electronic warfare battalion in the Belgorod region, - Russian Western Military District
1 year ago3 Russian assault ships of the Baltic Fleet (Minsk, Kaliningrad and Korolev) expected to transit Strait of Gibraltar today - most likely heading for Black Sea. The group is being shadowed by destroyer from USS Roosevelt group
The Pentagon's statements about its readiness to send 8,500 troops to Europe have no effect on the negotiations on security guarantees, - Kremlin says
1 year agoA train with Russian military equipment was moving towards Minsk in the Borisov district this morning (25.01). About 50 different military vehicles were transported on the train, many of them were tent covered. The same train was seen later in the direction of Baranavichy
1 year agoNavalny, Sobol, Gimadi and Alburov are included in the list of terrorists and extremists of Rosfinmonitoring
1 year agoRussian Military echelon with 9K33 Osa/SA-8 Gecko air defense systems arrived this morning at Palonka station in Belarus
