Pentagon chief intends to discuss measures to contain Russia

On Friday, the leadership of the US Department of Defense will meet with diplomats from allied countries in Stuttgart, Germany, to discuss countermeasures to Russian military intervention in Ukraine and reassure allies alarmed by the aggressive behavior of Moscow. The meeting will take place against the backdrop of new intensification of clashes between the Ukrainian army and the Russian-backed separatists.

US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter will hold a private meeting with generals, ambassadors and other leaders at the headquarters of the US European Command to analyze how effective the current EU and US sanctions are, as well as the NATO strategy to curb further Russian military intervention in Ukraine.

“This meeting is designed to give the Minister the necessary information on the eve of his first NATO summit, which will be held in late June,” explained Pentagon spokesman Brent Colburn. “One of the central topics of discussion will be Russia's actions over the past year and a half, including its activities in Ukraine,” he clarified.

On Thursday, at a briefing at the Pentagon, military spokesman Steve Warren explained that the talks in Stuttgart are “an opportunity to learn first-hand how Russian actions affect our European partners.”

On the same day, White House spokesman Josh Ernest stated that President Obama is aboutwill discuss the possibility of extending sanctions against Russia during a meeting with other world leaders at the upcoming G7 summit in Germany.

Ernest admitted that economic pressure could not force Russian President Vladimir Putin to change his "strategic calculations in Ukraine."