Changes

{{quotebox-float|"US Sanctions targeting [[Nord Stream 2]] would undermine the commitment given to [[Germany]] in the Joint Statement, weaken the credibility of the US government, and endanger the achievements of the Joint Statement, including the provisions supporting Ukraine."<ref>https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21118732-germany-non-paper</ref>}}  

{{quotebox-float|"US Sanctions targeting [[Nord Stream 2]] would undermine the commitment given to [[Germany]] in the Joint Statement, weaken the credibility of the US government, and endanger the achievements of the Joint Statement, including the provisions supporting Ukraine."<ref>https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21118732-germany-non-paper</ref>}}  

The ongoing reality was a massive buildup and activity of [[NATO]] forces inside Ukraine, which Putin had warned about crossing Russia's red line days before Haines panicked statements.<ref>https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/putin-accuses-nato-of-ignoring-russian-warnings-about-red-lines</ref>  [[CIA]] leaker [[David Ignatius]] told the ''Washington Post'' that the US was supporting an anti-Russian military insurgency in Ukraine.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/12/19/biden-ukraine-insurgents-russia/</ref>  Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reported that ten thousand NATO soldiers, including four thousand Americans, were already stationed and active in Ukraine. Drones and Stingers have been provided and used in eastern Ukraine.<ref>https://tass.com/world/1376191</ref>

The ongoing reality was a massive buildup and activity of [[NATO]] forces inside Ukraine, which Putin had warned about crossing Russia's red line days before Haines panicked statements.<ref>https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/putin-accuses-nato-of-ignoring-russian-warnings-about-red-lines</ref>  [[CIA]] leaker [[David Ignatius]] told the ''Washington Post'' that the US was supporting an anti-Russian military insurgency in Ukraine.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/12/19/biden-ukraine-insurgents-russia/</ref>  Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reported that ten thousand NATO soldiers, including four thousand Americans, were already stationed and active in Ukraine. Drones and Stingers have been provided and used in eastern Ukraine.<ref>https://tass.com/world/1376191</ref>

[[File:Ukrainian ambush in civilian neighborhood.PNG|left|300px|thumb|Armed Forces of Ukraine ambush point (purple circle} set up in a civilian residential area.<ref> https://rumble.com/vx17yd-jason-goodman-and-i-discuss-ukrainian-bioweapon-labs.html?mref=6zof&mrefc=2</ref>]]

[[File:Ukrainian ambush in civilian neighborhood.PNG|left|300px|thumb|Armed Forces of Ukraine ambush point (purple circle} set up in a civilian residential area.<ref> https://rumble.com/vx17yd-jason-goodman-and-i-discuss-ukrainian-bioweapon-labs.html?mref=6zof&mrefc=2</ref> The Ukrainian flag is visible in this phote before Russian forces arrived.]]

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reported that ten thousand NATO soldiers, including four thousand Americans, were already stationed and active in Ukraine. Drones and Stingers have been provided and used in eastern Ukraine.<ref>https://tass.com/world/1376191</ref>  In light of all the threatening activity on its border, on December 17, 2021 President Putin presented two treaties to be signed, one with the US<ref>https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/rso/nato/1790818/?lang=en</ref> the other with NATO,<ref>https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/rso/nato/1790803/?lang=en&clear_cache=Y</ref> the essence of which is that [[the West]] pledges not to threaten Russia's borders by offering membership to Ukraine or by arming and basing missiles in Ukraine.  Putin stated, "You are on our doorstep. We cannot back down."  Putin promised a response if the

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reported that ten thousand NATO soldiers, including four thousand Americans, were already stationed and active in Ukraine. Drones and Stingers have been provided and used in eastern Ukraine.<ref>https://tass.com/world/1376191</ref>  In light of all the threatening activity on its border, on December 17, 2021 President Putin presented two treaties to be signed, one with the US<ref>https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/rso/nato/1790818/?lang=en</ref> the other with NATO,<ref>https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/rso/nato/1790803/?lang=en&clear_cache=Y</ref> the essence of which is that [[the West]] pledges not to threaten Russia's borders by offering membership to Ukraine or by arming and basing missiles in Ukraine.  Putin stated, "You are on our doorstep. We cannot back down."  Putin promised a response if the

NATO powers do not stop their offensive actions. NATO General Secretary Stoltenberg rejected them out of hand.  Russia's deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko said on December 18, 2021 that NATO has been living in a fantasy world and that Europeans must think about whether they mean to turn their continent into a field of military confrontation.

NATO powers do not stop their offensive actions. NATO General Secretary Stoltenberg rejected them out of hand.  Russia's deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko said on December 18, 2021 that NATO has been living in a fantasy world and that Europeans must think about whether they mean to turn their continent into a field of military confrontation.