12,000 Russian soldiers in Ukraine’s east

BERLIN – The U.S. military estimates some 12,000 Russian soldiers are supporting pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine. U.S. Army Europe Commander Ben Hodges said the Russian forces are made up of military advisers, weapons operators and combat troops. He also said some 29,000 Russian troops are in Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine last year. Commander Hodges said in Berlin on March 3 that helping Ukraine with weapons would increase the stakes for Russian President Vladimir Putin at home. He added, “when mothers start seeing sons come home dead, when that price goes up, then that domestic support begins to shrink.” Commander Hodges said what Ukraine wants “is intelligence, counterfire capability and something that can stop a Russian tank.” The White House still hasn’t decided whether to send arms to Ukraine, and Commander Hodges reiterated that Washington wants a diplomatic solution. He also said U.S. plans to train three Ukrainian battalions that had been put on hold to see if a ceasefire deal forged last month in Minsk will be fully implemented. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, also voiced support for arming Ukraine on March 3. Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee, he said Washington “should absolutely consider” providing Kyiv with arms through NATO. Gen. Dempsey said Mr. Putin’s ultimate goal was to fracture NATO. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by the Associated Press and Reuters)