Ukraine is mobilizing troops and calling up Reservists after the country’s new leaders accused Russia of declaring war. Russian troops blocked access to three bases in the Crimean peninsula Sunday and demanded Ukrainian troops surrender, reported CNN. The North Atlantic Council issued a statement Sunday condemning Russian “military escalation” in Crimea and calling such action a breach of international law, according to the release. The build-up comes after Obama, last week, said “there will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine,” reported Reuters. David Gregory, of NBC’s Meet the Press, asked Secretary of State John Kerry, who is scheduled to travel to Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 4, what those costs will be now that Russia has disregarded calls to de-escalate tensions. “We’re now discussing all of the options,” said Kerry. He added, “Russia has major investment and trade needs and desires. I think there’s a unified view by all of the foreign ministers I talked with yesterday . . . that they’re simply going to isolate Russia . . .” Kerry said “asset freezes” and “visa bans” also are a possibility. In a 90-minute phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, Obama urged the leader to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, saying continued “violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would negatively impact Russia’s standing in the international community,” announced the White House.
A Golden Dome task force established under U.S. Northern Command earlier this year has a broad remit, which includes fielding the capability to defend the U.S. against missile and drone attacks, its leaders said this week. Some of the primary focuses right now are ensuring Golden Dome can defend itself…