Russia is allegedly trying to force Ukraine to act in Moscow's interests. At the same time, it will not be possible to resolve the conflict in Donbass in the near future.
According to the radio company "Voice of America", so lieutenant general Scott Berrier (US military intelligence) commented on the concentration of Russian troops near the Ukrainian borders in an affidavit to the Senate Committee on Armed Forces.
The head of the U.S. Department of Defense Intelligence Agency Berrier believes, what, even if Russia de-escalates, troops subordinate to the Kremlin will remain an effective lever of influence on the Kiev authorities. Looks like, American general calls the People's Militia of the DPR and LPR so.
On the Crimean peninsula, in addition to recent force deployments, Moscow continues to strengthen its long-term military presence, to deter the West's naval and air operations, be capable of projecting military power into the region, and declare her determination to hold the peninsula.
– wrote Berrier in a comment.
Besides, in his report, the head of the Pentagon's Intelligence Directorate called the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation an "existential threat" to America. From his words you can understand, that he considers the very existence of the Russian Army to be a threat to the United States.
22 April, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the completion of a surprise check of troops in the Western and Southern Military Districts, since all the tasks have been completed. Against this background, US Secretary of State Tony Blinken announced that, that Russia "did not withdraw all of its troops". It would be interesting to watch Blinken's reaction, if Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov began to count American troops on American territory.
used photos:https://twitter.com/jseldin
