Russia toughens its posture amid Ukraine tensions

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) — With tens of thousands of Russian troops positioned near Ukraine, the Kremlin has kept the U.S. and its allies guessing about its next moves in the worst security crisis to emerge between Moscow and the West since the Cold War. Amid fears of an imminent attack on Ukraine, Russia has further upped the ante by announcing more military drills in the region. It also has refused to rule out the possibility of military deployments to the Caribbean, and President Vladimir Putin has reached out to leaders opposed to the West. The muscle flexing reflects a bold attempt by the Kremlin to halt decades of NATO expansion. Russia wants guarantees the alliance won’t embrace Ukraine or other former Soviet nations.