Russia is laying the groundwork to annex Ukrainian territory, White Home says

WASHINGTON — The White Home mentioned Tuesday that it has intelligence to point Russia is taking steps to annex elements of Ukraine.

“We’re seeing ample proof and intelligence and within the public area that Russia intends to attempt to annex extra Ukrainian territory,” Nationwide Safety Council spokesman John Kirby informed reporters on the White Home.

Kirby added that the U.S. noticed an identical Russian playbook in 2014 earlier than the Kremlin annexed Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula on the Black Sea.

“Russia is putting in illegitimate proxy officers within the areas of Ukraine which can be below its management. We all know their subsequent strikes,” Kirby mentioned.

“We wish to make it plain to the American folks. No one is fooled by it,” he added.

The previous Pentagon spokesman mentioned that Moscow is attempting to ascertain branches of Russian banks as a way to create a path to make the ruble a default forex within the areas it desires to annex. Kirby additionally mentioned that Russian forces are taking management of broadcasting towers as a way to management communications.

The U.S. additionally believes that Moscow is forcing Ukrainian residents to use for Russian citizenship and issuing Russian passports.

The most recent revelation comes as Ukraine’s first girl visits the White Home amid near-constant Russian shelling in cities and cities in Donetsk.

Kirby additionally mentioned the Biden administration is getting ready a brand new army support package deal for Ukraine. The upcoming package deal, the 16th U.S. installment, will likely be tailor-made to the preventing in japanese Ukraine.

The U.S. has supplied about $eight billion in safety help for the reason that conflict started in late February, together with about $2.2 billion up to now month.