NATO Fears Russian Invasion of Ukraine

The NATO official spoke to CNN and stated that Russia's 40,000 staged troops near the Ukranian border, are strategically placed to successfully invade. Breedlove stated that Russia could, "...roll across the country in three to five days if it wanted to".

NATO's deterrence plan is set up via air and sea, while the land sector is being developed now.  Yesterday NATO declared that it would cease "all practical civilian and military cooperation" with Russia, regarding its Crimea annexation. This occurrence marks the most severe East-West dilemma since the Cold War era. Earlier, Russia insisted on its withdrawal of a portion of its posted troops, yet they all remain.

NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen believes Russia is trying to frighten Ukraine in an effort to: "reestablish a Russian sphere of influence covering the former Soviet space". He added,"This is really a matter of grave concern. If Russia were to intervene further in Ukraine, I wouldn't hesitate to call it a historic mistake...That would lead to further ... international isolation of Russia. It would have far-reaching consequences for relations between Russia and what we as a whole might call the Western world. It would be a miscalculation with huge strategic implications".

In the following days, 175 U.S. Marines from North Carolina will be deployed to Romania. The long prepared deployment is to strengthen a general Marine Corps existence in Europe. Up to 600 American forces are allowed in Romania at one given time. The Pentagon is contemplating further actions in the region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin terminated Russian and Ukrainian Black Sea lease agreements over a Crimea naval base, in a bill signed today. Previously Russia paid Ukraine $530 million yearly, for access to the Sevastopol base. Additionally, the state wrote off almost $100 million of Ukrainian debt in order to use the nation's waters. Russia also abolished the $100 discount on natural gas granted to Ukraine, resulting in an expected price rise of $485.50 for every 1,000 cubic meters of gas.