(CNN) Russian forces massed along Ukraine's borders have increased by approximately 7,000 troops in recent days, the United States alleged Wednesday evening, despite claims from Moscow it was pulling back.
A senior US administration official said the increase renders Russia's assertion of withdrawal "false," and warned President Vladimir Putin's public openness to diplomacy was a guise.
"Every indication we have now is they mean only to publicly offer to talk, and make claims about de-escalation, while privately mobilizing for war," the official said.
The new estimates would place the number of Russian forces north of the 150,000 figure President Joe Biden cited in a televised address earlier this week. Western leaders had already greeted Russia's claims of withdrawal with skepticism. On Tuesday, Biden said during a speech in the East Room that a withdrawal of Russian troops would be "good," but that he had yet to see any evidence that such a pullback was underway.
"Our analysts indicate that they remain very much in a threatening position," Biden said. "And the fact remains right now Russia has more than 150,000 troops encircling Ukraine and Belarus and along Ukraine's border."
Viking4949 on February 17th, 2022 at 01:14 UTC »
Troops on the border and Putin is still mulling things over. But, troops on the border still will add about a $10/barrel risk premium. Russia produces 10 million barrels of oil a day and with the war risk premium for oil, $100 million extra a day is going into the pockets of Putin and his oligarchs. I don’t know what his incremental cost is for troops at the border but he may be playing a profitable game.
The games we play!
Garn91575 on February 17th, 2022 at 00:29 UTC »
they walked in backwards hoping that Ukraine would think they were leaving.
Marionboy on February 17th, 2022 at 00:29 UTC »
They sent a couple crews on a beer run and want to be patted on the back.