Amid charges from U.S. and foreign officials that Russia now has invaded eastern sectors of Ukraine, a senior administration official confirmed that Moscow has maintained forces inside the region for nearly a decade.
“Russian troops moving into Donbas would not itself be a new step,” the official said. “Russia has had forces in the Donbas region for the past eight years.”
The official made the comments during a background briefing with reporters on Monday, and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The comments seem to contradict official White House declarations that by sending in troops to the region, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an incursion against its western neighbor.
“This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine,” President Joe Biden said on Tuesday from the White House.
Hellbound and Down 