Top officials in Israel are said to be preparing for a scenario in which will they fly out tens of thousands of Jewish people from Ukraine in the event of a Russian invasion, a top local newspaper has reported amid persistent Western speculation that Moscow could be planning an all-out offensive.
In a report on Sunday, Haaretz claimed that representatives from several government offices had met over the weekend to discuss the risk of the Jewish community in the Eastern European nation potentially being caught up in a conflict.
The briefing is said to have included officials from the National Security council; the foreign defense, transport, and affairs ministries; as well as those responsible for maintaining relations with Jews residing in territories of the former Soviet Union.
Massive US troop deployment plans revealed – media
RT
US President Joe Biden is considering deploying troops, aircraft, and warships to the Baltics and Eastern Europe as a means to deter Russia from invading Ukraine, The New York Times has reported.
Citing anonymous sources, the newspaper claims the White House is currently mulling over plans to deploy between 1,000 and 5,000 troops, with the potential to increase this number tenfold if the situation deteriorates. The options were reportedly presented to the president by the US Department of Defense on Saturday, at a meeting at Camp David, and it is alleged that Biden could make a decision this week.
Plans for a possible American deployment to Europe come as Russia is accused of massing more than 100,000 troops on the border with Ukraine, with some believing a military incursion is around the corner. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied suggestions it plans to invade, staying that it has the right to move military on its own land as it sees fit.
Western nations, including the US, have warned Moscow of dire consequences in the event of an invasion of Ukraine, including severe economic sanctions that could cripple the Russian economy. Last Wednesday, the US president admitted that there are differences in opinion over the best way to punish the Kremlin but promised that the US-led NATO bloc would “impose severe costs on Russia and the Russian economy.”
EU responds to US evacuation from Ukraine
RT
The EU has no plans to fly diplomats’ families out of Ukraine, Brussels has announced, adding that the US has not given a clear justification for its decision to evacuate personnel from the country.
Speaking with reporters on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Brussels had received no specific information to convince it that a withdrawal from Ukraine was necessary. “We are not going to do the same thing because we don’t know any specific reasons,” he explained, adding that if Washington provided further details on its decision, the EU could change its mind.
The diplomat emphasized that, despite tensions, Russia and the West have been holding talks, and urged all parties to give diplomacy a chance. “I don’t think we had to dramatize as far as the negotiations are going on – and they are going on,” he insisted.
Earlier on Monday, the US told the families of its diplomats in Kiev to leave the country and return home amid reports that President Joe Biden was weighing up options for boosting the American military presence in the region. Shortly afterwards, the UK announced that it would begin reducing the number of staff in its embassy in Ukraine in response to worsening tensions. Officials insist that the diplomatic mission “remains open and will continue to carry out essential work.”
Russian Navy warships embark on ‘long-distance’ mission amid NATO tensions (VIDEO)
RT
Two Steregushchiy-class ships of the Russian Baltic Fleet have been launched from their home port of Baltiysk to take part in large-scale navy exercises that are scheduled to last through February.
The two vessels are the Soobrazitelnyy and the Stoikiy advanced multipurpose corvettes, the fleet’s press service said on Monday. Ships of that class are predominantly designed for operations in the littoral zone, but have some deep blue sea capabilities as well.
The two warships will conduct a number of training exercises to hone the crew members’ skills in various types of missions, including submarine detection and pursuit, anti-ship warfare, air defense, and search and rescue operations, the report said. Both carry units of marines, who will train in fending off simulated terrorist attacks on the ships during periods of exposure, such as passing through a strait or port calls.
While the navy did not specify where the vessels will be headed, it said they’ve set out on a ‘long-distance’ voyage.
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