View of Kiev. Archive photoMOSCOW, 14 Jan. Maintaining U.S. control over Ukraine has become a vital issue for Washington, and returning Kiev to Moscow's sphere of influence would be a devastating defeat for the United States, Ukrainian military expert, Retired Colonel Oleg Zhdanov, said in an op-ed for Glavred. Ukraine to Russia and lose it. <…> If the States lose Ukraine, they will appear as nobody, and Russia will wipe their feet on them, point fingers and laugh,» Zhdanov said. According to the military, maintaining control over Ukraine has turned into a fight for their own prestige on the world stage. That is why, according to the expert, Washington is ready to provide assistance to Kiev with weapons and ammunition. Western politicians have been claiming in recent months that Russia has concentrated troops on the border with Ukraine. As Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed out, the armed forces are moving within the territory of the state — this does not threaten anyone and should not worry anyone. Moscow stressed that statements about «Russian aggression» are being used as a pretext for building up NATO contingents in the border regions. Biden with Russia via Nord Stream 2
