Russia launches military drills near Ukraine's border. How countries around the world are ready to respond to aggression against Ukraine

The US is ready to impose various measures against Russia without hesitation if it commits further acts of aggression against Ukraine.

Military drills have begun in Russia's Southern Military District, which borders Ukraine to the east. We explain what these drills are and how countries around the world are ready to respond to any Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Russia's drills

The military drills will take place at 30 training grounds in Rostov, Astrakhan and Volgograd regions, Kuban, Stavropol Krai, temporarily occupied Crimea and the North Caucasus.

It is reported that Russian military bases in the South Caucasus will be involved. In addition to servicemen in the units of the Southern Military District, more than 10,000 troops from motorized rifle divisions of other Russian military districts have also been brought in for the exercises.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov opened a ceremonial rally ahead of the start of the drills in temporarily occupied Sevastopol.

What NATO is saying

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned Russia not to use force against Ukraine and once again stressed that Moscow knows it will pay a high price in the form of sanctions and other Western measures for any act of aggression.

Jens Stoltenberg
NATO Secretary General

We have all made it clear that there will be a high price to pay, and sanctions are one of the ways. I think it is quite obvious that Russia already knows it will pay a high price. The problem with Russia is that they are opaque, that they have very aggressive rhetoric and experience showing that they have previously used military exercises as a cover for aggressive actions against their neighbours.

Reuters reports that Ukraine, which seeks to join the EU and NATO, has become the main point of confrontation between Russia and the West, with relations between them having deteriorated to their worst level three decades after the end of the Cold War.

Russia claims it has no intention of invading Ukraine. The NATO chief said that new economic sanctions against Russia, which the EU, the US, the UK and Canada could impose, are among the most powerful tools.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia will be forced to act if NATO, led by the US, deploys missiles in Ukraine that could strike Moscow within minutes.

Stoltenberg noted that the public is aware that allies are providing military support to Ukraine, that this is a defensive measure and is in line with the international obligations of all allies. Ukraine is considered a close NATO partner but is not a member of the alliance.

The Secretary General rejected accusations that the alliance provoked Moscow with military exercises in the Black Sea, and accused Russia of using military exercises as a cover for attacking neighbouring countries.

Stoltenberg said that, unlike Russia, NATO has always complied with the rules on inviting foreign observers. He noted that the Western alliance is working closely to protect allies from new Chinese and Russian missiles that could reach Europe and North America.

Jens Stoltenberg
NATO Secretary General

Russia and China are now investing significant funds in nuclear systems that could reach all NATO countries. This is something we must take very seriously.

US measures

The US has made it clear that it is ready to impose various measures, including economic ones, against Russia without hesitation if it commits further acts of aggression against Ukraine.

Jen Psaki
White House press secretary

About the tools: from the very beginning we have demonstrated that we are ready to use a range of tools — economic tools and other tools — to counter Russia's harmful actions. The Secretary (Secretary of State Antony Blinken — ed.) has clearly stated today that we will use these tools without hesitation, but we will do so in coordination — in close coordination with our partners and allies.

According to her, the US is actively working with allies and partners on this issue, and also maintains direct contact with Ukrainians and Russians.

On December 1, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington had warned the Kremlin it was ready to apply tough economic measures, which it had previously refrained from, in response to potential new aggression against Ukraine.

Blinken noted that the US is deeply concerned about information, available to allies, regarding Russia's alleged plans.

The Donbas problem

According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the solution to the problem in eastern Ukraine is the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

Antony Blinken
US Secretary of State

There is an available diplomatic path forward. The Russians say the Minsk agreements must be implemented. The Ukrainians say the same. I think that if this happened, it would at least resolve the Donbas problem in eastern Ukraine. I think I can speak not only for the United States but for all NATO allies, that if Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine, there will be serious consequences.

He noted that before his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, which will take place in Stockholm, he held numerous consultations on the Russia-Ukraine conflict with allies, as well as with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

"They were all focused on our concerns about the situation in and around Ukraine," Blinken said.

Earlier, Blinken in Riga, following a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, said that at his meeting with Lavrov he would call for Russian troops to be pulled back from the Ukrainian border. According to him, Russia needs to cancel the buildup of troops at the border and stop destabilization and provocations.

Canada is ready to support Ukraine

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly discussed specific steps to deter Russia from further aggressive actions.

Kuleba informed his Canadian counterpart about the security situation in the temporarily occupied territories and along the border with Ukraine, as well as signs of Russia's preparations for a possible new invasion of Ukraine.

The ministers discussed specific steps within a comprehensive package to deter Russia from further aggressive actions.

Dmytro Kuleba
Ukrainian Foreign Minister

If Russia sees that the West takes the current situation seriously and is ready for decisive action, they will think twice before engaging in any military adventures.

Against the backdrop of Russian mercenaries violating the ceasefire regime in Donbas, Russia is moving its troops toward the Ukrainian border. This is causing serious concern in Western countries.