By The Chicago Times Staff
January 28, 2022
MOSCOW – The Russian Foreign Minister declared that Moscow will not be the one to start a war over Ukraine.
The Biden administration has warned the Ukraine government that a Russian invasion is possible by February. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has been put on record saying “There won’t be a war as far as it depends on the Russian Federation, we don’t want a war. But we won’t let our interests be rudely trampled on and ignored.”
Russia has demanded that Ukraine be permanently barred from joining NATO and act as a buffer state between the NATO nations and the Russian Federation. In an effort to force through these demands by threat of war, Moscow has strategically placed over 100,000 troops along the Ukraine-Russian border.
NATO has formally rejected Russian demands yet has left a diplomatic window open that can begin the de-escalation process. However, Moscow has cemented its stance that Ukraine must never become a NATO member and has not taken “invasion” off the table. Though the Russian troop placement is still being labelled a “military exercise”, it is a clear message that Russia will not permit an expansion of the NATO alliance.
The United States and western allies have promised that a Russian invasion will result in punitive sanctions against Russian officials and Russian industry. Russian officials have said that the implementation of sanctions would amount to severing diplomatic ties.
The Chicago Times 