NATO’s top military leader warned Wednesday that Russia was ready enough to move on Ukraine that troops could be across the border within 12 hours of receiving the order to attack.
Right now, Gen. Philip Breedlove told CNN, Russia has 40,000 troops on standby at a location along the border.
These forces are “supported by fixed-wing aircraft, rotary aircraft, all of the logistics required in order to successfully make an incursion if they needed,” Gen. Breedlove said.
NATO, for its part, has solid air and sea defense plans in place and is going to spend the next few days coming up with an aligned land plan in case of military necessity, he said.
Ukraine is not a member of NATO, but member countries such as Poland and the Baltic states have voiced concerns about Russia’s rising military presence on the border.
NATO also confirmed that Russia isn’t showing any signs of retreating from its border positions, despite pressure from the West and the Obama administration’s sanctions of President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.