• Moscow has amassed more than 92,000 troops around 300 km from the Russian border with the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. This territory is a conflict zone where Ukraine has been battling Russia-backed separatists.
  • Russia’s recent escalation is because it is alarmed by the gradual expansion of military aid pouring into Ukraine from NATO member countries, which is allegedly being used in its war against Russia-backed separatists in the Donbas region.
  • In the event of Russia actually invading Ukraine, it is doubtful if NATO would intervene militarily to protect Ukraine, which is currently not a member. But the U.S. can increase sanctions; possibly against the Nord Steam-2 pipeline, which delivers Russian gas directly to Germany.