Ukraine crisis: US puts 8500 troops on alert, Aussies warned to leave

The United States has placed 8500 troops on ‘heightened alert’ as Boris Johnson warns any Russian invasion would be ‘painful, violent and bloody’.

Airmen and civilians from the 436th Aerial Port Squadron prepare ammunition, weapons and other equipment bound for Ukraine.

The United States has put 8500 troops on alert over the growing tension in Ukraine and President Joe Biden called European allies in an effort to maintain Western unity against Russian pressure.

The European Union, meanwhile, urged allies to avoid a “nervous breakdown” in the face of fears that Russia could stage a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Russian leader Vladimir Putin that any Russian invasion of Ukraine would be “painful, violent and bloody business”.

Mr Johnson told reporters: “We need to get a message that invading Ukraine, from a Russian perspective, is going to be a painful, violent and bloody business. I think it’s very important that people in Russia understand that this could be a new Chechnya.”

Despite insisting he has no intention of attacking, President Vladimir Putin has deployed some 100,000 troops close to Ukraine, where Russia already seized Crimea in 2014 and backs a separatist army in the east.

In Washington, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the US force of up to 8500 was on “heightened alert,” but the troops were not yet being deployed. Most of the troops would be used to boost the NATO Response Force if it were to be activated.

“What this is about... is reassurance to our NATO allies,” Kirby said. “It sends a very clear signal to Mr Putin that we take our responsibilities to NATO seriously.” NATO also said it was sending jets and ships to bolster its eastern flank. The tension helped fuel steep drops in global markets, while Russia’s main stock index plunged and the central bank suspended foreign currency purchasing after the ruble slumped.

Moscow is demanding a guarantee that Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, never be allowed to join NATO, as well as other concessions by the United States in return for a decrease in tension.

The United States and NATO have rejected the Russian demands and told Putin to deescalate, warning that a Russian attack on Ukraine will trigger “severe” economic sanctions and a beefed-up NATO presence in eastern Europe.

The French government announced that Russian and Ukrainian officials would meet, along with French and German counterparts, in Paris on Wednesday to try to find a way out of the impasse.

Unity search

As the crisis drags on, Washington is trying to maintain transatlantic and NATO unity against Russia, which supplies about 40 percent of the European Union’s natural gas.

At the White House, Biden was set to hold a secure video call with the leaders of France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland, the EU and NATO.

The White House said the talks were “part of our close consultation and coordination with our transatlantic allies.” Kirby insisted “there is no daylight” between Washington and EU allies. In Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after talks with US top diplomat Antony Blinken that there was nothing to suggest an “immediate” Russian attack.

“You have to stay calm doing what you have to do, and avoid a nervous breakdown,” he said.

Both Kyiv and the EU said any withdrawal of foreign embassy personnel was premature.

But Britain and Australia followed the United States in ordering diplomats’ families to leave Kyiv, while France told citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told European Council President Charles Michel that it was “important to preserve the unity of all EU member states in protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of Ukraine.

NATO troops ‘on standby’

The US-led NATO alliance said its members were placing troops “on standby” and sending ships and jets to bolster eastern Europe’s defenses in response to the Russian buildup, pointing to recent decisions by Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands to mobilize forces.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg insisted the alliance “will continue to take all necessary measures to protect” members.

The Kremlin accused NATO of “hysteria” and warned that Ukrainian troops fighting Russian-backed separatists in the east of the country could launch an offensive.

Referring to the Kremlin accusations, Zelensky’s office said Ukraine would not “succumb to provocations.” The United States has warned that Moscow could manufacture a “false flag” incident in Ukraine to be able to then frame an invasion as a justified response.

EU differences

The European Union and the United States are trying to agree on a package of sanctions against Moscow that it hopes will deter Russia.

But the 27-nation bloc faces a complex task, as members have starkly differing approaches and ties to Russia.

The new government in EU economic powerhouse Germany has faced criticism from Kyiv over its refusal to send arms to Ukraine and hesitation over one of the harshest economic punishments being discussed -- cutting Moscow from the global SWIFT payment system.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock insisted any further aggression from Moscow would get a “clear response” from Europe and talked up the economic support Berlin gives Kyiv.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc was preparing a 1.2-billion-euro emergency financial aid package for Ukraine.

Non-NATO member Ireland meanwhile sounded the alarm over upcoming Russian military exercises off its southwest coast in the international waters of the Atlantic

UK has ‘pretty gloomy’ intelligence

Mr Johnson said the prospect of an imminent invasion by Russian troops which continue to mass on the border was based on “pretty gloomy” intelligence. The UK, along with other western countries has ordered families of diplomats and dual nationals to leave Ukraine.

Senior Airman Zachary Kline, 436th Aerial Port Squadron cargo processor, with ammunition, weapons and other equipment bound for Ukraine.

Mr Johnson said: “The intelligence is very clear that there are 60 Russian battle groups on the border of Ukraine. The plan for a lightning war that could take out Kyiv is one that everybody can see. We need to make it very clear to the Kremlin that that would be a disastrous step”.

Mr Johnson said that he hoped sense would prevail but along with other countries the UK was prepare a package of economic sanctions against Russia if Moscow sent in the troops.

“The UK is in the lead in creating that package of economic sanctions, helping to stiffen the resistance of our Ukrainian friends with defensive weaponry that we’re supplying and making it clear that we stand fully foursquare with the people of Ukraine,” he said.

The United States said it was in full agreement with European allies on the severity of the response to any Russian invasion of Ukraine, and on the urgency of the threat. “There is no ambiguity,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters. “There is no daylight. We know that, and importantly, the Russian Federation knows that.”

This comes as Ireland’s foreign minister, Simon Coveney, bluntly told Russia that the country was “unwelcome” to hold military exercises 240km off the Irish coast.

Russia provocatively announced the war games, which will be held in international waters but within Ireland’s exclusive economic zone.

Earlier the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, announced EU loans of €1.2bn to Ukraine to help cover the cost of any conflict.

The EU called on Moscow to defuse tensions over Ukraine or face “massive” consequences, noting “notions of spheres of influence have no place in the 21st century”.

But Nato’s announcement that it was reinforcing its eastern borders as well as commanding the the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier, and its strike group to counter any lightning attack orders by Moscow to seize Kyiv, was dismissed by the Kremlin as “hysteria”.

Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Alexander Grushko, said Nato’s buildup of soldiers, and the western military alliance was demonising Russia to justify military activity on eastern flank”.

“The language of Nato is the language of threats and military pressure,” he said.

“This is nothing new.”

Aussies warned to leave Ukraine

The federal government is urging Australians to leave Ukraine immediately because of the increased risk of armed conflict as tensions continue to rise between the eastern European country and Russia.

It comes as the families of Australian diplomats prepare to leave Ukraine and the Biden ­administration prepares to send thousands of troops to support the nation against possible Russian attack.

A Department of Foreign ­Affairs spokesman confirmed that the Australian government on Monday night updated travel advice to Ukraine to level four, meaning do not travel.

“Australians in Ukraine should leave now by commercial means, where safe to do so, noting that flight availability could change or be suspended at short notice,” he said.

The spokesman said Australians who remained in Ukraine should review their personal security plans, be prepared to take shelter, be aware of their personal security and register with DFAT.

DFAT is warning Australians who choose to remain behind that consular services and assistance will be limited, given the potential conflict.

“Following Australian government advice, family members of Australian diplomats plan to depart Kiev,” a spokesman said.

“Locally engaged staff continue to work at the Australian embassy, together with their Australia-based colleagues, to advance Australian interests and provide services to Australians in Ukraine.”

With AFP