The Guardian View on the Threat to Ukraine: High and Rising

THE GUARDIAN – EDITORIAL: Russia hopes for disagreement and distraction. To counter it, the west must maintain unity

‘The very thing [Vladimir Putin] says Russia must counter – Nato’s presence in eastern Europe – is growing because of his own actions.’ Photograph: Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP/Getty Images
The US president’s need to state on Monday that there is “total unanimity” over how to deal with the Ukraine crisis, like the video call with European leaders which preceded it, was itself evidence of ongoing differences among western allies. There is no dispute about the threat: more than 100,000 Russian troops are now massed near Ukraine’s borders. The US has put 8,500 troops on standby to deploy to Europe to reinforce allies there, while Nato has reinforced its eastern borders with warships and fighter jets. A senior US official briefed on Tuesday that in the event of an invasion, sanctions will “start at the top of the escalation ladder and stay there”. » | Editorial | Tuesday, January 25, 2022