US and NATO allies send military aid to Ukraine.
Photo: EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO / EFE
The President’s Government Joe Biden has on the table a package of economic sanctions against Russia, in case that Vladimir Putin’s regime decides to invade Ukraine, but rejects that it would send members of the Army directly to Ukrainian territory.
“There will be no US forces in Ukraine,” the president said. “We do not intend to put US forces or NATO forces in Ukraine. But we said there will be serious economic consequences if he (Putin) moves forward.”
This Monday, the Department of Defense confirmed that there were 8,500 soldiers on “high alert” to be deployed in Eastern Europe, in the event of a Russian invasion, which increased fears of a possible NATO and US military advance.
President Biden called the action an “intimidating” move, alerting the Putin government to available forces, but the Democrat has insisted diplomatic negotiations are prioritized.
Max Bergmann, a senior expert on Eastern Europe and Russia at the Center for American Progress, says that in the event of an armed conflict, The US would not be fighting directly on the ground, but like NATO members it would provide military support to the administration of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
“What is made clear to Russia is that it has the support of NATO allies… but Ukraine would be the one fighting this war,” he said.
He added that the risk in this conflict is a “bad calculation”, that is, that the Putin government considers that the alliance seeks an attack on Moscow, which is not contemplated.
“The situation is extremely dangerous… that is why nobody wants Russia to invade Ukraine and that is why we have this diplomatic dialogue in progress”, he emphasized.
straight to finance
Biden Administration Prepares Export Controls, “Massive” Economic Sanctions Against Russia in the event of an invasion of Ukraine, confirmed a senior official in a conference with journalists on Tuesday.
“This time we will start at the top of the escalation ladder and stay there,” he said, recalling that similar sanctions were not implemented in 2014. “I would say that the sell-off in the Russian markets, its borrowing costs, the value of its currency and the risk of implicit default in the market reflect the seriousness of the economic consequences that we can and will impose on the Russian economy in the event of a new invasion.
He highlighted export controls in the medium term, which he described as “incredibly powerful.”
Like financial sanctions that restrict foreign capital, export controls deny Russia something it needs and cannot easily replace elsewhere. “We are talking about sophisticated technologies that we design and produce and that are essential inputs for Russia’s strategic ambitions.”
He added that the controls would affect Russia’s technological development, causing problems in different areas, not just commercial ones.
“It would hurt areas that are important to him, whether it’s artificial intelligence or quantum computing, defense, aerospace or other key sectors,” he said.
The expert Bergmann, who held positions in the State Department between 2011 and 2017, pointed out that the main conflict between Russia and the US would remain in the economic field.
“Russia depends on the US financial system,” he pointed out, noting that the Biden Administration would have an advantage over the banking system and anti-corruption actions, but highlighted exports, especially in technology, including microchips.
Why the front for Ukraine
President Biden said last week that Putin is seeking “his place” in the new world order, but for Bergmann, the Russian leader is seeking to expand his legacy and restore Russia’s power.
“This is Putin’s attempt to restore power to Russia. He has been in power for 22 years,” the expert said. “His main goal is to strengthen Russia, a stronger player (in the world order)… He could not do it without the help of Ukraine. More than Putin seeking his place in the world, it is the intention of a leader to extend his legacy.
He added that after World War II, NATO began to expand its presence in Eastern Europe in countries like Poland, which has been seen as problematic for the Russians.
“For Russia, Ukraine is an essential part of the Russian states… Russia is concerned that if Ukraine moves closer to NATO, even if it does not join, but continues to receive arms support, this may be a threat to Russia,” the expert said.
eldiariony.com
Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.