Russia’s vow to annex occupied Ukraine sparks divisions, pleas for aid

This has always been the plan (see Institute for the Study of War). I don’t know why it would “spark divisions.” Not only have they always planned that but they will go a step further in following traditional Soviet-Russian negotiations, “What’s ours is ours, what’s yours is negotiable,” and re-threaten the use of nuclear weapons/wmd if sacred Russian soil, formerly sacred Ulrainian soil, is attacked.

…critics of the Biden administration’s response thus far — including some Democrats — contend that the president and his advisers appear largely unfazed by the Kremlin’s pronouncements.

The Bidens are unfazed because this isn’t a new phase! 

“The more time [Putin] gets to put his people in place,” [GOP Rep. Michael] Waltz said, “those occupied areas become more and more a new normal, a fait accompli, of being a part of Russia.”

Yes.

Biden administration officials insist they are exploring ways to respond to multiple contingencies, including annexation. There are, however, few signs they believe Russia asserting sovereignty over Ukrainian territory would demonstrably reshape the war — or that the threat alone should justify a dramatic escalation of military aid.

So that comes very close to saying, perhaps in fact says, that there should be more “signs” of a “dramatic escalation of military aid” by the U.S. to Ukraine. That is written from the perspective that this is a shocking new development. That is wrong, it is not. It is also irresponsible if these reporters realize that under international law the U.S. and NATO are already principals to Ukraine, legally have been in no less danger from Russian military aggression than Ukraine is and have not suffered conventional or nuclear attack only because Putin, although threatening it repeatedly, has decided the time is not right. 

 

If these reporters or anyone else thinks that the U.S. could get away further with “a dramatic escalation if military aid” to Ukraine to prevent this long-planned annexation they have a bone in her brain. Does thes reporters want World War III? That is not a hyperbolic scare question, that is real as a nuclear attack. The Bidens answer to “critics” who are going after them is the same, “We do not want World War III.” The Bidens have done too MUCH already, they SHOULD BE unfazed and SHOULD NOT escalate military assistance. Full stop.