US says Russia could invade Ukraine 'any time', Biden to hold meeting today

By Team Newsable | First Published Feb 20, 2022, 12:28 PM IST

Russia's strategic nuclear forces conducted drills under the supervision of President Vladimir Putin, while Washington accused Russian soldiers massed near Ukraine's border of advancing and being "poised to attack." With Western concerns of conflict growing, the White House stated that US President Joe Biden's national security staff advised him that Russia may launch an assault in Ukraine "at any time," and that he intended to meet with his senior aides on Sunday to address the matter. Foreign ministers from the G7 group of wealthy nations said they had seen no sign that Russia is lowering its military action in the region and are "gravely worried" about the situation.

Following an exchange of accusations between Kyiv and Moscow over additional shelling along the border, France and Germany encouraged all or part of their people in Ukraine to leave. According to US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Russian soldiers are starting to "uncoil and move closer" to the border. Russia ordered the military buildup while insisting that NATO prevent Ukraine from ever joining the alliance, but it dismisses Western concerns that it is contemplating an invasion of Ukraine as crazy and dangerous. Moscow claims to be retreating, but Washington and its allies fear the buildup is increasing. Washington and NATO believe Moscow's key demands are non-starters, but in Ukraine, concerns about Putin's ambitions are mounting.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed his displeasure at a security conference in Munich, saying the global security architecture was "nearly shattered." He requested the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Germany, and Turkey to convene in order to devise fresh security assurances for his nation. "The norms that the world agreed on decades ago don't function anymore," Zelenskiy added. "They are unable to keep up with emerging dangers... When you require a coronavirus vaccination, use this cough syrup."
On Saturday, World Bank President David Malpass informed Zelenskiy that the bank was preparing to provide up to $350 million to Ukraine.

During the nuclear forces drills, Russia successfully test-launched hypersonic and cruise missiles at sea, according to the Kremlin. Putin watched the drills on screens with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko from a "situation centre." In his most precise forecast yet, Biden stated on Friday that he was confident Putin had decided to attack Ukraine in the coming days, and Austin warned on Saturday that the nuclear military drills were causing anxiety throughout the globe.

Zelenskiy stated that he had a "urgent" phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, during which they discussed possible quick de-escalation and political-diplomatic solutions. Macron is scheduled to meet with Putin on Sunday. The nuclear drills come after four months of manoeuvring by Russia's armed forces, which included a buildup of soldiers to the north, east, and south of Ukraine, estimated by the West to number 150,000 or more.

According to Maxar Technologies, a U.S.-based company that follows developments using satellite images, new helicopters and a battle group deployment of tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and support equipment have been transferred to areas near the border in Russia. According to a NATO source, the alliance shifted personnel from Kyiv to the western city of Lviv and to Brussels for security concerns. The US and other nations have dispatched officials to Lviv.

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