The two presidents spoke a day after Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, warned that U.S. intelligence shows a Russian invasion could begin within days and before the Winter Olympics in Beijing end on Feb. 20.
Russia denies it intends to invade but has massed well over 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus, encircling Ukraine on three sides. U.S. officials say Russia’s buildup of firepower has reached the point where it could invade on short notice.
The official added that it remains unclear whether Putin has made a final decision to move forward with military action. Putin complained in the call that the United States and NATO have not responded satisfactorily to Russian demands that Ukraine be prohibited from joining the military alliance and that NATO pull back forces from Eastern Europe.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tried to project calm as he observed military exercises Saturday near Crimea, the peninsula that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014.Ukrainian armed forces chief commander Lt. Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov issued a more defiant joint statement.
Adding to the sense of crisis, the Pentagon ordered an additional 3,000 U.S. troops to Poland to reassure allies. “Russia has all the forces it needs to conduct a major military action,” Sullivan said, adding that “Russia could choose, in very short order, to commence a major military action against Ukraine.” He said the scale of such an invasion could range from a limited incursion to a strike on Kyiv, the capital.“The hysteria of the White House is more indicative than ever,” said Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman. “The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At any cost.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Biden warns Putin of 'severe costs' of Ukraine invasionBREAKING: President Biden again called on President Putin to pull back Russian troops massed near Ukraine’s borders and warned the U.S. and its allies would “respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if Russia invades, the White House said.
Read more »
Biden Warns Putin of ‘Severe Costs' of Ukraine InvasionThe White House says President Joe Biden told Russia’s Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but “equally prepared for other scenarios.”
Read more »
Biden warns Putin of 'swift and severe costs' if Russia invades Ukraine in hour-long callRussian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden held a call after tensions over a possibly imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply.
Read more »
Biden warns Putin of 'swift and severe costs' amid fears of imminent Ukraine invasionPresident Biden warns President Putin of “swift and severe costs” to further invasion of Ukraine amid escalating fears of imminent attack.
Read more »