US to send troops to Eastern Europe
The crisis in Eastern Europe continues to live its most tense days. The United States will send troops to Eastern Europe and NATO countries "in the short term", that is what US President Joe Biden assured at a press conference, a statement that does not diminish the pre-war climate that is being experienced in this part of the world.
Biden had already assured that he had 8,500 troops on "high alert" and that they would be ready to respond quickly in the event of an armed attack in Ukraine. Compared to the 100,000 troops that Russian President Vladimir Putin sent to the Ukrainian border, the possible US deployment seems minimal. However, Biden's announcement is a clear statement of intent that demonstrates the US's willingness to act and respond.
While the Ukrainian authorities claim that the Russian troops on the border are "not enough to launch an invasion", US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin stresses that "you have to go way back to the days of the Cold War to see something of this magnitude".
This US readiness is drawing some criticism from Ukraine's political leaders. The head of the People's Servant faction in the Rada has criticised the US position, saying he does not know "the real reason why the US is doing this". He also slammed the West, claiming that they were fomenting "panic about the Russian invasion".
Although Kiev urges the West to continue to act "firmly and vigilantly" in the face of possible steps by the Russian Federation, they accuse Biden of being "inflammatory" and of "creating panic" after Washington claimed that Moscow could invade Ukraine in a month's time.
In this regard, Ukraine's own President Volodymyr Zelensky told a press conference that he "cannot be grateful to the United States just because it is the United States". He added that he appreciated the US role in defending Ukrainian sovereignty but that he 'knew deeper details than any president' about US strategy.
A year after Joe Biden's term in office experienced a clear drop in popularity, the president is trying to regain ground on the international stage after the resounding withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.
In this regard, Biden has managed to make the voice of the United States heard above those of the other NATO countries, as well as those of the European Union. He has also managed to reach an agreement so that, in the event of a possible conflict with Russia, the United States will be able to supply gas to the EU-27.
In the event of an occupation, US generals have already predicted a "catastrophe of great magnitude" due to the "kind of forces Moscow has amassed". These include the delivery of surface-to-air ballistic missiles, heavy artillery and air capability, an arsenal that Moscow has been building for years after it invested a larger budget for this purpose, including the creation of a special operations unit.
In addition, Russia has announced the dispatch of launchers to Belarus, along with bombers as part of announced preparations for joint manoeuvres in both countries in February. Although these exercises are part of a series of drills, Kiev views these moves with concern that they will take place on the border itself.
Despite this situation, Zelenski reaffirms his position and stresses that "despite the likelihood of attack", there is no "escalation beyond what there was last year".
Dissociating themselves from the US position, European leaders continue to promote the diplomatic route. This is the case of countries such as the United Kingdom, which announced through its prime minister, Boris Johnson, that he will travel to Ukraine in the coming days and try to hold a telephone conversation with Putin with the aim of "avoiding bloodshed". In addition, the British Foreign Office plans to announce tougher sanctions against Russia in the event of an invasion.
France's foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, will travel to Ukraine with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, to "reduce tensions". In view of these positions, the Ukrainian foreign minister, Dimitri Kuleba, pointed out that "helping the Ukrainian economy had become a priority", since, due to the panic caused by the situation, the country has suffered a capital flight of "11 billion euros", a situation that the Ukrainian state "cannot cope with".
Americas Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra