Could Russia Absorb Eastern Ukraine?

Analysis: Could Russia Absorb Eastern Ukraine? -- Jonathan Marcus, BBC

Nato military spokesmen are tight-lipped. Nobody wants to spell out the details of Russian military deployments on the eastern frontier of Ukraine.

But on one thing they are all clear. According to unattributed US sources, Russia has massed up to 30,000 troops on Ukraine's eastern frontier - and the key thing is they are arrayed and equipped to go on to the offensive at very short notice.

Moscow is ready to implement a further military option in Ukraine, if and when President Vladimir Putin gives the green light.

Western military planners deal with capabilities, not so much intentions. The message from Nato then is that the Russian capability is there and ready. What is in Mr Putin's mind is impossible to determine.

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My Comment: Considering how lacking and ineffective the Ukraine and Western European/U.S. response was to the Russian seizure of Crimea .... it may be tempting for Putin to give the green light to seize eastern and southern Ukraine. That is why the next few weeks are going to be critical on what happens in this part of the world .... but the Russian bear is at the Ukraine border .... and he is watching.