Mediaboss Marketing

Secretary of State Antony Blinken gives a press briefing at the end of a NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2021.

Olivier Hoslet | Reuters

WASHINGTON Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday he was concerned about the number of Russian troops massing on the Ukrainian border and warned Moscow that "there will be consequences" for aggressive behavior.

"I have to tell you I have real concerns about Russia's actions on the borders of Ukraine. There are more Russian forces massed on those borders than at any time since 2014 when Russia first invaded," Blinken said during an interview on "Meet the Press" Sunday.

"President Biden's been very clear about this. If Russia acts recklessly, or aggressively, there will be costs, there will be consequences," Blinken said, adding that the United States was discussing the unfolding aggression on the border with allies and partners.

On Friday, Blinken spoke to his German and French counterparts in part, about "Russian provocations against Ukraine."

Last week, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the Biden administration was consulting with NATO allies about the uptick in tensions and cease-fire violations.

"The United States is increasingly concerned by recent escalating Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, including Russian troop movements on Ukraine's border," she told reporters on Thursday, calling the matter "deeply concerning."

Read more: U.S. concerned about Russian troop movements near Ukraine, discussing regional tensions with NATO allies

In recent weeks, Moscow has increased its military presence along the Ukrainian border, sparking concerns in the West of a budding military conflict between the two neighboring countries. The Russian Defense Ministry has said it isconducting more than 4,000 military drills this monthto inspect the readiness of its forces.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visits positions of armed forces near the frontline with Russian-backed separatists during his working trip in Donbass region, Ukraine April 8, 2021.

Ukrainian Presidential Press Service | Handout | via Reuters

Last month, the Ukrainian government said four of its soldiers were killed by Russian shelling in Donbass. Moscow has denied it has forces in eastern Ukraine. Since 2014, Kyiv has been battling Russian-backed separatists in a conflict that has left at least 13,000 people dead, according to U.N. figures.

Read more:The West waits for Putin's next move as Russia-Ukraine tensions rise

Kremlin spokesmanDmitry Peskov said Friday that Moscow will move its forces across Russian territory at its discretion and called the escalating tensions "unprecedented." He also suggested that Ukraine was on the brink of civil war, which would threaten Russia's security.

"The Kremlin has fears that a civil war could resume in Ukraine. And if a civil war, a full-scale military action, resumes near our borders that would threaten the Russian Federation's security," Peskov said, according to the Associated Press. "The ongoing escalation of tensions is quite unprecedented."

Russian PresidentVladimir Putinaccused Ukraine of resuming "dangerous provocative actions" on a call Friday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to a readout from the Kremlin. The Kremlin has previously said that it is concerned about the rising tensions in eastern Ukraine and that it feared Kyiv's forces were attempting to restart a conflict.

Last week, the Pentagon reiterated its calls for the Kremlin to explain its decision to mobilize troops to the border.

"The Russians are engaged in conducting a military buildup along the eastern border of Ukraine and in Crimea, which still belongs to Ukraine, and that is of concern. And we want to know more about what it is they're doing and what their intentions are because we don't believe it's conducive to security and stability there.," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters Friday.

Later this week, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will meet in person with NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg at the alliance headquarters in Brussels.

See the article here:
Blinken warns Moscow of consequences amid troop buildup ...

"What was striking today was every single ally expressed the same concerns," said Blinken, speaking alongside US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Ukraine estimates that Russia has amassed as many as 50,000 troops in the region, while the current US assessment is that the Russian military has moved more than 40 battalion tactical groups into the border area, which could total up 40,000 troops. It is the largest buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine since 2014, when Russian forces invaded the country and occupied the Crimean Peninsula.

"It is a part of a broader pattern of Russian aggressive action, which raises very serious concerns," said Stoltenberg. "Allies fully support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and we call on Russia to de-escalate immediately, stop its pattern of aggressive provocations and respect its international commitments."

On Tuesday, Gen. Tod Wolters, head of the US European Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee the latest intelligence showed that a "very sizable" Russian ground force as well as "notable" increased air and naval forces had moved into the Ukraine border region and Crimea. "It is of the size and scale and scope that is of great concern, and it mirrors the size and scope and scale of the infiltration of forces that occurred back in 2014."

In addition, Russia has moved SA-22 air defense missile units into the region, according to a US official tracking Russian movements. That system is designed to protect Russian troops and critical military and civilian targets against air attack.

"We call upon Russia to cease their provocations and to be more transparent about this recent activity," said Austin, noting that the US has provided Ukraine with nonlethal materials, weapons and trainers, and that he expects that to continue.

Pentagon officials say the current intelligence does not indicate that this land force is prepared for offensive operations in the next few days, because there is no evidence of the logistics, spare parts, fuel and medical capability that would need to be pre-positioned. But the concern remains that there are also no indicators of Russia reducing its forces or signaling a de-escalation. And events on the ground can change quickly, officials caution, noting that the intelligence assessments typically project out for only a few days at a time.

US reconnaissance aircraft are continuing to fly over the Black Sea to gather intelligence about Russian moves. The US assesses the Russians are likely to begin their own maritime war games in the area in the coming days.

The US Navy filed initial diplomatic paperwork with Turkey for permission to send two warships into the Black Sea in the coming days but has decided not to send the ships into the sensitive region, according to a defense official with direct knowledge. The destroyers are being kept out of the Black Sea for now, as the move is seen as too escalatory, US officials say. Instead, the ships will remain in the nearby Aegean Sea area, ready to respond if needed.

"We will remain vigilant," one official says.

Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergey Ryabkov, warned the United States on Tuesday that it is better for the US Navy to stay away from the Russian Federation and Crimea, stating that the risks of incidents are very high, according to state news agency RIA.

The United States "must understand that the risks of certain incidents are very high. We have already observed something similar in a completely different water area this year. We warn the United States that it is better for them to stay away from Crimea, from our Black Sea coast. For their own good," Ryabkov told reporters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN's Matthew Chance that the US is a "good friend" of Ukraine, but that Biden "must do more," to deter Russia and help bring this conflict to an end.

Originally posted here:
US and other NATO members pledge support to Ukraine while walking fine line with Russia - CNN

Issued on: 16/04/2021 - 19:59

What could possibly go wrong?Russia insisting that the 83-thousand troops its land and sea maneouvres at the Ukranian border are routine.Ukraine responding with military drills of its own with diplomatic lobbying in overdrive. Latest stop for president Volodimir Zelesnkiy Paris where lunch at the presidential palace came with a phone call to German leader Angela Merkel. Tensions were dialled up further on Wednesday with the expected arrival of two US warships.

The Russians then decided to stage live fire naval exercises. Only in the end, those two warships never came.

Further easttwenty years after 9-11, ten years after the killing of Osama Ben Laden, it was the week Joe Biden fixed a final withdrawal date from Afghanistan. The USpresident dispatching his secretary of state to Kabul to brief president Ashraf Ghani and try to reassure his hostswith mixed results. What a US-led Nato withdrawal means for Afghanistan's neighbors is also an open question. After announcing that troop withdrawalthe US president going to Arlington National cemetary, where 14-thousand US military veterans are buried, a reminder that his late son, Beau Biden earned a bronze star in Afghanistan.

A footnote in all of it may be Hong Kong where sentenced were handed down for nine prominent pro-democracy activists. Their crime, taking part in mass protests back in 2019. On the same day of the Hong Kong sentencing,the French president and the German chancellor in a three-way conference call with Chinese president Xi Jinping. The topic on the agenda:climate change. How much leverage do European leaders have if they feel like talking human rights?

Produced by Charles Wente, Juliette Laurain andLopoldine Iribarren.

Read the original here:
The world this week - Ukraine tensions, US Afghanistan withdrawal, Hong Kong, Notre Dame Cathedral - FRANCE 24

By Tom Kertscher, PolitiFact.com| Austin American-Statesman

George Papadopoulos:Joe Biden is withholding $150 million in aid from Ukraine to pressure Ukraine to drop all criminal investigations into him and his son, Hunter.

PolitiFact's ruling:False

Here's why:A Donald Trump ally who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in the investigation of whether Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election has accused President Joe Biden of withholding aid from Ukraine as a way of helping himself and his son Hunter Biden.

The claim was made by George Papadopoulos, an adviser in Trumps 2016 campaign whoserved12 days in prison forlyingabout hisattemptsto allegedly connect other campaign staff with officials representing Russia. He waspardonedby Trump near the end of Trumps term as president.

In an April 12tweet, widelysharedon Facebook, Papadopoulos stated:

"Biden is now withholding $150 million in aid from Ukraine as tensions with Russia grow. I mentioned this a couple weeks ago. He wants to pressure Ukraine to drop all criminal investigations into him and his son, Hunter. Wheres the media on this extortion attempt?"

The Facebook post was flagged as part of Facebooks efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed.

There is no evidence Ukraine is conducting criminal investigations of the president or his son.

Fact-check: Did DMX receive a COVID-19 vaccine before his death?

Congress approved and President Trump signed a bill appropriating$275 millionfor what is known as the Ukraine

Security Assistance Initiative. The secretary of defense can use the money to provide assistance, such as training and intelligence support, as well as weapons to Ukraine.

In March, the Defense Departmentannouncedit was releasing $125 million of the aid in training, equipment and advisory efforts as part of the U.S. commitment to provide "defensive lethal weapons to enable Ukraine to more effectively defend itself against Russian aggression."

The remaining $150 million will be provided when the Defense Department "certifies that Ukraine has made sufficient progress on key defense reforms this year, as required by the National Defense Authorization Act," the announcement said.

"The Department encourages Ukraine to continue to enact reforms that strengthen civilian control of the military, promote increased transparency and accountability in defense industry and procurement, and modernize its defense sector in other key areas in line with NATO principles and standards."

Fact-check: Is the number of kids in Border Patrol custody 4 times higher under Biden than Trump?

Previous legislation also required that some assistance be withheld to Ukraine pending completion of certain reforms, said Steven Pifer, a foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution and a retired foreign service officer.

Lincoln Mitchell, a research scholar in war and peace studies at Columbia University said that "in general, it is not all that unusual to withhold money for specific reasons that are required by U.S. law or policy. That is what Biden is doing."

Last July, werated Falsea claim that Joe Biden was formally listed as a criminal suspect in a Ukraine case involving his son.

A judge in Ukraine ordered that a criminal case file be opened regarding Bidens efforts as vice president to get Ukraines top prosecutor removed from office. But the bar is low in Ukraine for opening a criminal case file; in this case, it was requested by a member of parliament. And the opening of the file does not mean that a criminal investigation was launched with probable cause, or that Biden is a suspect.

In November, Ukrainian authoritiessaidthey closed a criminal probe of Joe Biden over allegations that he improperly forced the ouster of the countrys prosecutor general in 2016.

Fact-check: Can you 'buy whatever you want' at a gun show without a background check?

Hunter Biden held a paid directorship with a Ukrainian natural gas company called Burisma Holdings, beginning in 2014. It drew attention because Burisma was owned by Mykola Zlochevsky, a minister under Russia-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych.

Pifer and Mitchell said they have seen no evidence that Ukraine is conducting a criminal investigation of the Bidens.

We tried to reach out to Papadopoulous through his book publisher and his LinkedIn account, but did not get a reply.

The claim has echoes of some of the same issues raised in Trumps first impeachment in November 2019. The HouseimpeachedTrump, and the Senate later acquitted him, on charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress. A whistleblowers complaint had sounded alarms about Trumps efforts to get Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce investigations into Joe Biden before the 2020 election. The articles of impeachment charged that Trump held up security assistance and a White House meeting to put pressure on Ukraine, then obstructed Congress to cover it up.

Trump ally George Papadopoulos claimed Joe Biden is "withholding $150 million in aid from Ukraine" to "pressure Ukraine to drop all criminal investigations into him and his son, Hunter."

There is no evidence of any such investigations. The Biden administration released $125 million in military aid to Ukraine but, following federal law, is withholding $150 million until Ukraine enacts military reforms.

We rate the claim False.

Facebook post, April 12, 2021

Email, Steven Pifer, foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution and a retired foreign service officer, April 14, 2021

Email, Lincoln Mitchell, research scholar in war and peace studies at Columbia University, April 14, 2021

Associated Press,"Biden administration announces $125M military aid package for Ukraine,"March 2, 2021

Defense Department,news release, March 1, 2021

House Appropriations Committee,news release, July 7, 2020

Congress.gov,"H.R.133 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021,"became law Dec. 27, 2020

See the original post:
Fact-check: Is Biden 'pressuring Ukraine' to drop investigations by withholding aid? - Austin American-Statesman

As the global economy continues its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, speculation among economists and Wall Street analysts is building that this decade could be a repeat of the prosperity and growth of the Roaring 1920s.

But beyond the recoveries in places like the US and Australia driven by trillions of dollars in government support, things are far more reminiscent the economic upheaval and geopolitical disorder of the 1930s.

As the pandemic continues to rage throughout much of the world and people count its cost on their lives, the times they are a-changin, to quote legendary songwriter Bob Dylan.

After decades of perceived stability following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the pandemic has created conditions akin to the early days of the Great Depression throughout much of the world.

A world in crisis

In the developing world, 134 million people have fallen out of the middle class since the pandemic began, reversing years of progress in lifting these millions out of poverty.

Entire countries have been thrown into economic or social upheaval. Turkey has seen the value of its currency collapse, the military has seized power in Myanmar and political instability continues to mount across the globe.

RELATED: 37 million locked down as cases skyrocket

The worlds superpowers have also been increasingly pushing their boundaries amid the atmosphere of uncertainty, with this arguably being exacerbated by the presence of a new administration in Washington.

From the active combat zones of the contested Donbass region of Eastern Ukraine to the escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait, the sabre rattling and war drums seemingly grow louder with each passing day.

In recent days Russian tanks, surface-to-air missile batteries and heavy artillery have continued to head toward the border with Ukraine and the Russian-occupied territory of Crimea.

According to US intelligence reports there are more Russian forces massed on the border than at any time since Russia previously entered Ukraine in 2014.

RELATED: US hits Russia with sweeping sanctions

The Russian Navy is also moving landing craft and gunboats to the Black Sea, with the Russian Ministry of Defence stating they would take part in upcoming exercises.

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, or OSCE, has also said there has been a spike in GPS jamming in the region, fuelling concerns that a major escalation in the conflict could be imminent.

The Belarusian military has also moved its own forces to the border with Ukraine and will be conducting large exercises around 30km from the border.

US-Russia tensions

The build-up comes amid statements the administration of President Joe Biden promising Kiev the unwavering support of the US.

In a recent press conference, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken took quite a hard line with his rhetoric toward Moscow. If Russia acts recklessly, or aggressively, there will be costs, there will be consequences, he said.

RELATED: World meltdown only China is ready for

What exactly Mr Bidens unwavering support and Mr Blinkens consequences would actually mean in reality is very much up in the air and open to all sorts of interpretations.

Up until recently American support for Kiev has been focused on a limited number of airlifted arms shipments.

However, late last week Turkish authorities confirmed that two US Navy warships had been given permission to transit into the Black Sea to monitor Russian activity.

Given the ambiguity of the Biden administrations statements on Ukraine, a group of veteran intelligence officers wrote to the President to urge him not to become involved in a war against Moscow over Ukraine.

China-Taiwan conflict

Meanwhile in the Pacific, tensions also continue to rise.

Recent days have seen record numbers of Chinese Air Force aircraft violating Taiwans air defence identification zone and a Chinese Navy carrier battle group sailed through Okinawas Miyako strait, prompting Tokyo to scramble fighter jets to intercept and monitor.

Recent pictures from the US Navy destroyer USS Mustin showed the warship shadowing the battle group of the Chinese Navy carrier Liaoning a move analysts say was designed to send a clear message to Beijing.

The USS Mustin was joined in its efforts to keep an eye of the Chinese carrier by the Japanese destroyer JS Suzutsuki, which was ordered by Tokyo to gather information and monitor the movements of the Chinese vessels.

What all of this could mean for Australia

In our little corner of the South Pacific with our government stimulus-driven economy, its easy to think that the global economy is well down the road to recovery and that the world is returning to normal.

Australia is once again the outlier, the Lucky Country.

However, if the downside scenarios were realised, Australias record lucky run would likely come to an end. In the event of a conflict between the US and China, our nations economy would be decimated, as our number one export destination became the enemy of our closest ally.

Australias armed forces would also almost certainly be called upon to join our allies in combat and our military installations would become a key part of allied logistics within the region.

What next?

The virus continues to decimate economies and stifle recoveries, even in some nations such as Chile where almost 40 per cent of the population has been vaccinated.

At the same time, discontent with governments continues to build in much of the world, as nations without the same scope as Australia for huge stimulus struggle to support their hard hit economies.

For the first time since the early days of the Great Depression, almost every nation in the world faces a challenging road ahead to some degree or another.

While things turning out for the best can never be ruled out, historically periods of widespread economic upheaval and high levels of discontent with governments can prove to be challenging to say the least.

As the superpowers flex their military muscle and rattle their sabres, its clear the post-Cold War world of unchallenged American supremacy has come to a close.

What the rest of the decade has in store for us, no one can truly know, but one thing is certain the times they are a-changin.

Tarric Brooker is a freelance journalist and social commentator | @AvidCommentator

More:
Australia isnt immune to the impact of world COVID crisis and rising global tensions - NEWS.com.au