Russia buildup stokes war fears

Washington: The buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine has left US officials perplexed, muddying the Biden administration’s response.

Some Republican lawmakers have been pressing the US to step up militarys up port for Ukraine.

But that risks turning what may be mere muscleflexing by Russian President Vladimir Putin into a fullblown confrontation that only adds to the peril for Ukraine and could trigger an energy crisis in Europe. But a weak US response carries its own risks. It could embolden Putin to take more aggressive steps against Ukraine as fears grow he could try to seize more of its territory.

And it could cause more political damage for President Joe Biden at a time his popularity is dropping.

Knowing how to strike the right balance would be easier if the US had a better understanding of what Putin was trying to accomplish. But top officials admit they don’t know . -(AP)