Russian Jets Fly Into Ukraine Airspace As Fears Of All-Out Invasion Escalate

Russian jets penetrated Ukraine airspace repeatedly over the past 24 hours, raising fears in the embattled country that Russia may be on the verge of an all-out invasion. But U.S. officials say they are unsure why the jets flew into Ukraine, while calling on the Russian government to “take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation.”

Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren reiterated the U.S. call for Russia to tone down the tense confrontation with Ukraine. He confirmed that the U.S. was aware of the Russian jets violating Ukraine airspace, but said the U.S. did not know why the jets crossed the line between the Ukraine and Russia.

Russia in recent days has moved troops, jets, helicopters and tanks to the Ukraine border, in what are being called Russian military exercises. But U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has condemned the “exercises” as “dangerously destabilizing.”

Ukraine acting Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk warned that the incursion by the Russian jets and the other military exercises are signal a Russian invasion that could happen at any time.

“The world has not yet forgotten World War 2, but Russia is already keen on starting World War 3,” Yatsenyuk said, in a cabinet meeting.

His fears were echoed by Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danylo Lubkivsky, who told reporters that Ukraine had “information” that “we are in danger.”

“We are going to protect our motherland against any invasion,” the ambassador pledged. “We call on the Russians to stop this madness.”

U.S officials speaking anonymously told reporters that the Russian jets entering Ukraine airspace could have been testing Ukraine’s radar systems — or jets cold have been another instance of Russian saber-rattling.

According to Warren, U.S. defense officials have told the Russians that Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is seeking a conversation with his Russia opposite number, Sergei Shoigu. But so far Shoigu has ignored the requests.

The last time President Barack Obama spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin was April 14, almost two weeks ago, according to a recent news report.

But Joint Chiefs Chairman General Martib Dempsey did, in fact, speak to the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia Gen. Valery Gerasimov on Thursday, so United States-Russian communication has not been totally cut off yet.

The airspace violation by Russian jets is just the latest element of a crisis in Ukraine that got underway last November.