Diplomatic efforts are under way to prevent a Russian invasion of Ukraine, and more and more countries are urging their citizens to leave the country immediately.
US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have telephoned to discuss the build-up of troops around Ukraine, a White House official has said. The phone call started at 11:04 a.m. (US time) and completed at 12:06 p.m.
According to a White House statement, Biden made it clear to Putin that if Russia invades Ukraine again, the United States and its allies will respond decisively and impose immediate and hard costs on Russia.
At the same time, the American president warned the Russian president that “an invasion will cause great human costs, but will also undermine Russia’s position internationally.
“Although we are ready for diplomacy, we are fully prepared with our allies and partners for the other scenarios,” Biden said.
Earlier, the State Department ordered all staff of the US Embassy in Kiev – except a narrow “core” of diplomats and officials – to leave the Ukrainian capital.
The United States is also removing troops that have been sent to Ukraine for help because of the increased risk of Russian aggression.
At the same time, they estimate that Putin is determined to invade Ukraine, saying that the attack is expected for February 16. The Russian side, however, denies this.
Macron – Putin communication
French President Emmanuel Macron also had a 1-hour, 40-minute telephone conversation with Putin to try to defuse tensions in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
According to the Elysee, Macron told Putin that an “honest dialogue is not compatible with a (military) escalation” on the Ukrainian border. Macron and Putin “both expressed their willingness to continue the dialogue in order to promote the implementation of the Minsk agreements” on Donbass and on “the conditions of security and stability in Europe”, the French presidency added. The French president “also conveyed the concerns of his European partners and allies.”
Vladimir Putin did not say anything during a telephone conversation with French President Emanuel Macron indicating that he was preparing to invade Ukraine, a French presidency official said. “We do not see any indication that President Putin is going to launch an attack,” he said.
“However, we are extremely vigilant and vigilant about the Russian (military) stance in order to avoid the worst,” he said, adding: “France would, however, now advise French citizens to avoid traveling to Ukraine.”
At the same time, the Elysee announced that Macron reiterated to Putin the “determination (of the West) to react in case of a military operation in Ukraine.”
The French president will continue his diplomatic efforts to prevent an escalation by having a telephone conversation tonight with US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Soltz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the president said.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
