Russian Forces Double Along Ukraine Border

[bemildred]

American officials are worried that 50,000 Russian troops being massed near the Ukraine border and within Crimea, the pro-Russian peninsula recently annexed by President Vladimir Putin, aren't there for just a training exercise.

Despite Russian reassurances that Moscow’s troop buildup along Ukraine’s eastern frontier is for a military exercise, its growing scale is making U.S. officials nervous about its ultimate aim.

President Barack Obama on Friday urged Russia to stop “intimidating” Ukraine and to pull its troops back to “de-escalate the situation.” He told CBS that the troop buildup may “be an effort to intimidate Ukraine, or it may be that [Russia has] additional plans.”

http://time.com/41490/russia-ukraine-crimea-putin/

[bemildred]

1. No Evidence Of Russian Military Build-Up On Ukraine Border Says Moscow

MOSCOW--Western observers have found no evidence of a military build-up along Russia's border with Ukraine, the Russian foreign ministry said on its website Friday.

The West has been urging Russia to move its troops away from its border with Ukraine after media reports that the country has been building up its military presence there.

The statement from Russia's foreign ministry referred to inspections by Ukrainian and Western observers as well as survey flights by German and U.S. planes over the border territory, all of which, it said, found no evidence of military escalation.

The ministry questioned the objectivity of Western politicians regarding the presence of Russian troops near the border with Ukraine.

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20140328-704508.html

[DetlefK]

2. In other news, Christie's lawyers exonerate Christie.

May be Putin doesn't get that the West is imposing sanctions to save the rest of Ukraine from a russian invasion, not to punish him for conquering Crimea.

As soon as Russia is no longer a military threat to Ukraine, everybody will be more than happy to lift the sanctions and get business rolling again.

[bemildred]

3. Thanks for clearing that up. nt