White House says Russia laying groundwork to annex Ukraine territory
By Nandita Bose and Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Russia is laying the groundwork for the annexation of Ukrainian territory and is putting in illegitimate proxy officers in areas there below its management because it seeks to exert whole management over its beneficial properties within the east, the White Home mentioned on Tuesday.
Unveiling what he mentioned was U.S. intelligence, John Kirby, the chief Nationwide Safety Council spokesman, advised a White Home information briefing that the Russians are getting ready to put in proxy officers, set up the rouble because the default forex and pressure residents to use for citizenship.
“We’ve info at the moment, together with from downgraded intelligence that we’re capable of share with you, about how Russia is laying the groundwork to annex Ukrainian territory that it controls in direct violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty,” Kirby mentioned.
The identical tactic was utilized in 2014 when Russia introduced its annexation of Crimea after taking up management from Ukraine, Kirby mentioned. The worldwide group considers Crimea’s annexation illegitimate.
“We need to make it plain to the American folks,” Kirby mentioned. “No person is fooled by it. (Russian President Vladimir Putin) is dusting off the playbook from 2014.”
Russia despatched tens of 1000’s of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it calls a “particular army operation” to make sure its personal safety.
Russia is now additionally making an attempt to take management of broadcasting towers, he mentioned.
On the identical time, Kirby mentioned the USA within the subsequent few days will announce a brand new weapons bundle for Ukraine because it engages Russia in fierce battles in japanese Ukraine.
It will likely be the sixteenth such drawdown of cash permitted by Congress and allotted below presidential authority, he mentioned.
The bundle is anticipated to incorporate U.S. cellular rocket launchers, often called HIMARS, and rounds for A number of Launch Rocket Programs in addition to artillery munitions.
The Russian embassy in the USA dismissed Washington’s feedback as “essentially false”.
“So far, greater than 45 thousand tons of humanitarian cargo have been despatched to Ukraine, the DPR and the LPR. How does all this relate to the idea of annexation?” it mentioned in a Fb publish, referring to the Russian-backed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.
The USA has supplied $8 billion in safety help because the battle started, together with $2.2 billion within the final month.
Washington will impose sanctions on officers concerned in representing themselves as proxy officers, Kirby mentioned. He predicted these proxies to attempt to maintain “sham referenda” looking for to legitimatize Russian management.
(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Steve Holland; Further reporting by Mike Stone and Akriti Sharma; Enhancing by Alistair Bell and Clarence Fernandez)
