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Russian attack helicopters (archive shot)
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According to US findings, Russia has not only sent more than 100,000 soldiers to the border with Ukraine, but has now also positioned warplanes, transport helicopters and helicopters there.
The "New York Times" reports.
However, according to the report, the relocation of Russian troops to the border has slowed.
It has been expected that up to 175,000 soldiers would be stationed there in December and early January.
However, this scenario has not yet materialized.
However, at least 100,000 Russian military personnel are said to be still there.
Given the massive deployment of Russian troops, the West is concerned that Moscow is preparing a new invasion of the neighboring country after the annexation of Crimea.
Moscow categorically rejects this.
At the same time, however, the Kremlin is demanding agreements from the USA and NATO that prohibit the eastward expansion of NATO and the establishment of US military bases in states of the former Soviet sphere of influence.
This in turn is rejected by several NATO members.
According to US findings, the time window for Russian troops to march into Ukraine is apparently limited if President Vladimir Putin gives the order.
Because when the ground in Ukraine is frozen, this made it easier for heavy military vehicles to be deployed.
However, a thaw in spring could turn the subsoil into a swampy swamp.
In order to be better informed about the Russian intentions, according to the report, electronic bugging aircraft of the type RC-135 "Rivet Joint" of the US Air Force have been flying over the Ukraine near the border with Russia on a regular basis since the end of December.
The planes enable American intelligence agents to eavesdrop on communications from Russian ground commanders.
Negotiations without a breakthrough
The winter in Ukraine is currently relatively mild. The usual severe frost has not materialized and the freezing of the ground has slowed down as a result. A ground offensive by Russia could therefore only take place in February. In order to get a better sense of the possible conditions this year, the government of President Joe Biden has hired meteorologists to study the likely weather in Ukraine in the coming weeks, according to a US official.
A meeting of American and Russian negotiators on the Ukraine crisis ended on Monday in Geneva after almost eight hours.
As expected, there was no breakthrough in the negotiations.
The US would have offered disarmament talks, among other things, if Russia took the same steps, said US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.
Such talks could take place, for example, within the framework of the Russia-NATO Council, which will meet in Brussels on Wednesday.
Her Russian counterpart Sergei Ryabkov assured that Russia had "no intentions to attack Ukraine" and described the situation as "not hopeless".
"The conversation was difficult, but very professional, profound and concrete," said Ryabkov.
Moscow had also made it clear that progress had to be made with regard to essential demands.
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