‘These are dangerous times’: Massachusetts congressman says Russia could invade Ukraine ‘within days’

Feb 21, 2022 | National Security, News & Updates

Boston Herald

By Rick Sobey

Congressman Stephen Lynch says he’s “worried” as Russia is set to invade Ukraine in the coming days, calling it a “very dangerous time” in eastern Europe.

Lynch, who’s the chair of the Subcommittee on National Security, on Sunday said they recently had a “rather grim” classified briefing on the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

“We should expect an invasion within days,” Lynch said on WCVB’s “On The Record.”

“It’s clear that (Russia President Vladimir) Putin’s agenda is really to try to recreate some iteration of the former Soviet Union,” he said, calling this situation “a new Cold War.”

Lynch said he’s concerned about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s position — which has been warning Russia that there will be economic sanctions if Russia takes Ukraine.

“Inadvertently, I think that Putin is attracted by that offer, and that he would gladly trade some economic pain for acquiring the 44 million people in Ukraine as his subjects,” the congressman said.

“It’s a very dangerous time, and I support the president (Biden), but I’m also worried about the firmness of the NATO coalition, and what will happen once shots are fired,” he said, later adding, “These are dangerous times, and this is a moment of great consequence.”

Lynch said he’s also concerned about the ramifications for Taiwan after all this. It would only be a matter of time until China does the same thing to Taiwan, he warned.

“Because if NATO and the U.S. agree that we’ll put a price, an economic price on each country if it’s invaded, I think (China’s leader) Xi (Jinping) takes the long view, China takes the long view,” Lynch said.

“If you said to him (Jinping), there will be economic sanctions against China if you take Taiwan, I think he would gladly take that deal,” the congressman said.

While Putin is keeping the world guessing, NATO has not.

“They have laid their cards right on the table, and told the world what their approach would be,” Lynch said, noting that part of that is because it’s a diverse coalition with some of the countries in the line of fire.

Lynch reminded people that Ukraine is the largest country in Europe, and has 44 million people.

“It is basically the threshold to eastern Europe,” he said. “This is a moment of great consequence.”