(CNN) – In response to the Russian incursion into Ukrainian territory, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the U.S. is beefing up its presence in the region.

But will that rattle the Russians at all?

Military analyst Major General James "Spider" Marks, U.S. Army (Ret.), says the move is not aimed at Russia.

"What that is intended to do is bolster the confidence of our allies and our friends, to make sure they know we're standing by and paying attention. That's the intended recipient," said Marks.
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(CNN) – Conservatives have slammed President Barack Obama for what they consider to be a tepid response to Russia's incursion in Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.

But former President George W. Bush responded in a similar manner when Russia invaded Georgia in 2008. That, says Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, was a mistake.
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(CNN) – World leaders meet in Paris Thursday for talks that were intended to focus on Lebanon. Instead, Ukraine will likely dominate the agenda. A statement from the meeting brings up the 1994 Budapest agreement, which, among other things, convinced Ukraine to give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for the promise that its territorial sovereignty would be respected.

If that agreement is not upheld, and if the world does not show that it is serious about ensuring the promises made to Ukraine are kept, it could set a dangerous precedent as the U.S. and other countries try to convince countries like Iran and North Korea to give up their nuclear weapons.
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(CNN) – Russian forces remain in effective control of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula, in a tense standoff with Ukrainian forces loyal to the new interim government in Kiev.

But European Union and European commission members are balking at imposing sanction against Russia for its military actions in Ukraine.

Now, experts are asking what the U.S and the European Union were thinking when it backed Ukrainian protesters.
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