Russia's military buildup at the Ukrainian border is easy to find. Satellite images show an ever-expanding patch of snow-covered tanks extending along the border, and the flow of the Russian records show a stable west crawl of trains carrying rocket launchers, armor, and troops. Nonetheless, despite the accumulation and warnings from the United States  that an attack may be imminent, NATO is on the alert, but Ukrainian leadership downplays Russia's threat. 

Ukrainian analysts say it is to stabilize the Ukrainian market, prevent panic, and avoid provoking Moscow, while others attribute it to the country's uneasy acceptance that conflict with Russia is a daily life. Russia announced a series of military exercises from the Pacific Ocean to the western flanks around Ukraine. This is a demonstration of the vast range of its army. Also, fearing Russia's risk of stopping fuel sales to Europe in the middle of winter, the Biden administration said gas and crude oil suppliers from the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia would increase their supply to Europe in the coming weeks. 

However, as the Kremlin and the West clash, Ukrainian authorities are creating a calm atmosphere. Earlier this week, the Ukrainian defense ministry claimed that Russian troops had not changed compared to the increase in spring. The head of the National Security Council has accused some Western countries and the news media  of exaggerating the dangers for geopolitical purposes.