Russia's troop buildup near the Ukraine border is making everyone nervous

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Russia's troop buildup near the Ukraine border is making everyone nervous
(Image credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Russia has amassed at least 10,000 soldiers — Ukraine estimates the number at more than 80,000 — plus tanks, artillery units, attack helicopters, and fighter jets along its border with eastern Ukraine. Moscow has also sent a handful of Sukhoi-27 fighter jets to Belarus, a Russian ally on Ukraine's north, essentially putting Russian forces on three sides of Ukraine. Russia characterizes this troop buildup as intensive training exercises.

The U.S. and Europe, not to mention Ukraine, are getting increasingly concerned about the show of force before Sunday's controversial referendum in the Russian-occupied region of Crimea. In unusually strong language, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told parliament on Thursday that if Russia keeps up its aggressive posturing, Germany, "as neighbors of Russia, would not only see it as a threat," but it will "change the European Union’s relationship with Russia" and "cause massive damage to Russia, economically, and politically."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.