‘Horrific’ destruction, casualties if Russia invades Ukraine, says prime US military normal

If Russia unleashes the forces it has amassed close to Ukraine’s border to invade its neighbor, the end result could be “horrific” and end in vital casualties, the highest US navy officer stated on Friday, evaluating this second to the Cold War.

Army General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the feedback amid fragile Russia-US diplomacy in a broader East-West standoff over Ukraine. Moscow has demanded Nato pull again troops and weapons from Eastern Europe and bar Ukraine from ever becoming a member of the navy alliance.Washington and its Nato allies reject that place however say they’re prepared to debate different subjects reminiscent of arms management and confidence-building measures that will persuade Russia to tug again its troops from close to Ukraine’s border.READ | Ukraine disaster: US affords no concessions in response to Russia’s calls forSpeaking at a Pentagon information convention, Milley stated that given the sorts of forces Russia has arrayed, “all of it packaged together, if that was unleashed on Ukraine, it would be significant, very significant, and it would result in a significant amount of casualties.”He added: “And you can imagine what that might look like in dense urban areas, along roads and so on and so forth. It would be horrific, it would be terrible.”Speaking alongside Milley, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that whereas the United States doesn’t imagine Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided whether or not to invade, he now has the navy functionality to take action.READ | Stay calm, Russian invasion not imminent, enchantment Ukrainian leaders”[There] are multiple options available to [Putin] including the seizure of cities and significant territories, but also coercive acts and provocative political acts like the recognition of breakaway territories,” Austin stated.He stated the United States stays centered on countering Russian disinformation, together with something that could possibly be used as a pretext for assaults in opposition to Ukraine. He added that the United States was dedicated to serving to Ukraine defend itself, and famous US provisions of further anti-armor weaponry.READ | Russia vs NATO: Crisis in Ukraine a showdown of two world views