First up
tensions along the Ukrainian Russian border are continuing to mount as the
US Warns Russia has added an additional 7000 troops to the region.
Now this news comes despite the Kremlin declaring
its forces are pulling back from the border.
According to Western estimates, more than 150,000 Russian troops
have surrounded Ukraine to the east, north and south of the country.
The Wall Street Journal reports,
Russian back separatists and authorities of Kiev are exchanging
accusation over ceasefire violations on the front line.
Things are getting spicy
joining me now to break this all down is California, congressman
Ami Bera and congressman. The West warns that Russia has added more troops.
As I mentioned, while Russia maintains it has reduced the number of troops.
So why is there discrepancy?
You know, when,
when I was in Ukraine a couple of weeks ago and
we were talking with the Ukrainian leadership with President Zelensky,
they said we ought to approach Vladimir Putin as though he was a poker player.
So this could be one of those head fakes where he's saying one thing and doing
another thing and I think we we have
not been briefed on any evidence of troop withdrawals
and in fact the administration and intelligence
community and said the exact opposite.
The other thing that has this worried is, you know,
this escalating tension rhetoric between Ukrainian forces
in the Donbas region and Russian separatists,
that's exactly the type of thing that Vladimir Putin would use as an excuse to go in.
And
you know, at least moved troops into the Donbas region. So
I think we're still on pretty heightened alert right now.
Now we've been talking about diplomacy, there's always room for diplomacy.
There's still room for diplomacy, but adding troops to the border,
does that make that the whole diplomacy word kind of just fade away?
You know, diplomacy is still always an option.
I think Mr Putin was surprised at how strong the biden administration reacted,
How strongly all of the european union came together along with the United States.
And you've even seen other democracies around the world,
like Japan and others come together and
really stand up to this autocrat in Russia.
And I think that surprised him, I thought he probably felt he could divide us and
the exact opposite happened.
Now, you met recently with the Ukrainian President, can you tell us how that went?
You know, we did, we met with President Zelensky, his foreign minister,
his defense minister,
you know, with a good meeting.
And again, I recognize that, you know, he's being cautious,
he doesn't want to create panic in his country.
He doesn't want to further negatively impact the economy of Ukraine,
which has been impacted by this.
Um that said they're very matter of fact they're preparing to defend their country.
You know, when you talk to um just regular Ukrainians, you know,
they're signing up for the military there.
They know they can't defeat the Russian army,
but what they can do is fight an insurgency and
they have no intention of going back under Russian rule.
They've tasted freedom.
You know,
it's our obligation as the world's oldest democracy
to stand with this young democracy in Ukraine.
Speaking of our obligation, how do you think the U. S.
Administration has been dealing with this crisis overall?
You know,
I actually think the biden administration has
been very strong in its response again.
Rallying the european union,
rallying NATO taking very decisive moves in moving some of our troops that are
already stationed in europe to shore up the countries that are closer to Ukraine
but also getting further obligations. So if Russia's
the whole goal was to
um forced NATO to withdraw from eastern europe,
he's accomplished the exact opposite.
I also think, you know,
the sanctions package that we've been briefed on and that you know,
they also alluded to would be devastating to the Russian economy.
Again, we'll see if Mr Putin's bluffing. If you know, he
decides to fold his hand or at least walk back where he's at?
But he strengthened us and strengthen our results
now when it comes to
the invasion, what does it seem eminent?
Or do you think that there is still time to kind of talk it over and
get these troops back home and Ukraine and the rest of the world feeling better.
Do you think that it's just that window
just getting smaller and smaller and smaller.
You know? I think there's time to um
hold off the invasion of troops now,
do I think we'll continue to see actions like the
cyber attacks that are already taking place on Ukraine?
That probably continues.
You know,
we probably have to work with the Ukrainians
to think about what are proportional responses.
Should these continue to escalate?
Um, but I don't think there's anything any going back at this point.
You know,
we're continuing to fortify and and help Ukraine
with its own ability to defend itself.
And we've seen the threat to other NATO
allies in Eastern europe and the balkan countries.
I think we will continue to work with them to fortify their defenses as well.
Is there any situation where all sides win? And what would that situation look like?
You know, I think the situation where all sides win is, you know, if we, you know,
reassure Russia on some of its security concerns, you know,
when Russia talks about Ukraine joining NATO,
the President President biden has been very clear that there's no attempt for,
you know, any imminent joining of NATO,
but that's ultimately Captain NATO nations
in Ukraine and President Zelensky said,
you know, maybe that's off the table.
So Russia could walk away and say, okay, we gotta win. Ukraine start joining NATO?
I think we could get a win by saying, okay, how do we deescalate tensions and then,
you know, Russia wants to reduce the nuclear threat in europe.
Well, that's
a bilateral negotiation where Russia also has to reduce its nuclear weapons.
That would probably be a good thing.
Congressman. Barry. You've been incredibly wise.
Thank you so much for taking the time and joining us
on their show and shedding some light on this issue,
sir.
I appreciate your time. Thank you again.