Why Is Putin Obsessed With Ukraine? What Experts Say
NDTV
Russia has surrounded Ukraine from three sides, like a horse shoe, say experts. The US has warned of serious consequences for Moscow if Kyiv is attacked.
United States and its allies have been expressing concerns about the presence of Russian forces on Ukraine's border. Several diplomatic attempts have been made to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to order troop withdrawal, but the efforts have yielded little results.
The US and its allies say that more than 1.5 lakh Russian soldiers have been stationed just kilometres away from the Ukrainian border and are “ready to attack”. Friday's statement by US President Joe Biden that Russia could attack Ukraine “within days” is based on the assessments made by intelligence agencies and satellite images released by Maxar Technologies.
The images show that troops are present in Opuk and Yevpatoria railyard, in the territories that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. Then there are images of armoured vehicles and tanks in sites at Lake Donuzlav and Novoozernoye.
Russia has also sent troops to Belarus for a military exercise, surrounding Ukraine from three sides, which the West says is a preparation for attack unless Moscow's security demands are met.
