Russia invading Ukraine to cause consequences at home says Biden
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
A Russian attack on Ukraine remains “very much a possibility” according to US President Joe Biden. In a press conference made last night, he said the human cost of an invasion would be “immense” and the Russian claim that some forces had been withdrawn from the Ukrainian border had not been verified. He said: “Our analysts indicate that they remain very much in a threatening position.” Mr Biden’s claims echo those of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as he said yesterday that intelligence is “not encouraging”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has always denied plans for an invasion, but tensions have been rising since November and the Kremlin’s unpredictable nature has done nothing to ease Western fears.
Dr Paul Flenley, a Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Portsmouth and Russian foreign policy expert, told Express.co.uk that any potential invasion would be met with fierce resistance.
He said: “Would Russia be stopped? Well obviously the Ukrainians would fight, and that’s where I think Putin would be running a great gamble.
“The Ukrainian army has been re-equipped and they would resist.
“So it wouldn’t be a certainty for Putin, and that’s where he would run a great risk if he invaded.
“They would resist and they would have the will.”
Though the Ukrainian army is much better trained and equipped than in 2014 when Russia invaded Crimea, its armed forces are significantly smaller.
The Russian army has about 280,000 personnel and its combined armed forces total is about 900,000.
As of February 2021, the Ukrainian army had just shy of 250,000 personnel — 195,000 of which are servicemen.
While the Ukrainians are undoubtedly outnumbered, Dr Flenley said their passion compared to their Russian counterparts would work in their favour.
He said: “Again, amongst Russian troops if they invaded, it’s doubtful whether they would have much of the passion.
“They’d be questioning why are we invading Ukraine, especially when the body bags start going home, whereas Ukrainians would be fighting for their independence, so the passion would be much greater on the Ukrainian side.
“I don’t think the West would actually, nothing’s been said that the West would deploy troops in Ukraine itself if the Russians invaded.
“They’d just help with supplies and sanctions, I suppose, which wouldn’t have much effect.”
NATO has supplied Ukraine with arms and provided military training, but does not plan to send troops into Ukraine.
DON’T MISS:
Ukraine warned it may be on its own if Russia invades [EXCLUSIVE]
NATO’s ‘mistake’ with Ukraine membership in face of Russia [QUOTES]
Vladimir Putin ‘playing long game’ with Ukraine: ‘Got what he wants’ [EXPERT]
Instead, the 30-nation military alliance is bolstering its own defences from Estonia down to Bulgaria.
Putin called Russians and Ukrainians “one nation” in a speech last year, and considers Ukraine a part of Russia both historically and culturally.
Russian is widely spoken across many parts of Ukraine, with pro-Russia support much more prominent in the east of the country than the west.
Polling conducted last month by the Ukrainian Institute for the Future found 64 percent of Ukrainians support their country’s accession to NATO, something Putin is vehemently opposed to.
This pro-NATO figure reaches as high as 73 percent in the west of Ukraine, but falls to 47 percent in the east.
Dr Flenley warned: “If you’re going to invade Ukraine and take Kiev, you’ve got to not only invade, but then secure it.
“You might be able to enter Kiev and then withdraw, but to actually hold Kiev and establish an alternative government, the logistics of that are enormous, especially against resistance.
“Kiev is very different from eastern Ukraine where there’s a degree of support for Russia and relative alienation from Kiev.”
Ukraine said yesterday that the website of its defence ministry and two banks had been victims of a cyber attack.
The cause remains unclear, but the finger has been pointed at Russia after previous attacks on Ukraine’s online infrastructure.
It has long been a concern that Russia might use tactics such as cyber attacks to destabilise Ukraine, rather than a full-scale invasion.
President Biden confirmed last night that the US is “prepared to respond” should Russia attack the US or its allies through “asymmetric means”.
Source: Read Full Article