The US government has raised the bar even higher in terms of warnings about a Russian attack on Ukraine, stressing that it could happen in a few days.
“We are deeply concerned that Russia may take action against Ukraine as early as this week,” US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told France 24.
This “conclusion” has been reached by Washington, seeing the course of “the development of Russian forces around Ukraine”, in “all its aspects”, he insisted.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken tells me “We are deeply concerned that Russia could take action against Ukraine as early as this week” “Russia instead of deescalating has been escalating putting more and more forces in and so we are deeply concerned”
pic.twitter.com/YNEgC653kx– Sonia Dridi (@Sonia_Dridi) February 14, 2022
Russia is escalating instead of de-escalating, gathering more troops on the border with Ukraine, the US diplomat told French television.
“The road to diplomacy remains open,” Mr Blinken said.
“We are doing everything possible to convince Russia that it must follow the diplomatic path, the path of dialogue, to resolve any differences peacefully,” he added.
Recently, Washington warned of a threatening Russian invasion of Ukraine before the end of the Beijing Winter Olympics, that is, before February 20.
Putin is willing to negotiate, says the Kremlin spokesman
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov said earlier that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “willing to negotiate”, adding that the crisis in Ukraine was only part of Russia’s biggest security concerns.
“In the beginning, President Putin always demanded negotiation and diplomacy,” Peshkov told CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen late Monday, adding:
“Ukraine is only part of the problem, it is part of the bigger problem of security guarantees that Russia is seeking, and of course President Putin is willing to negotiate.”
Breaking: Kremlin Spokesman tells me Russian President Vladimir Putin is “willing to negotiate.” He also said for Russia Ukraine is only part of a larger security issue. “It’s part of the bigger problem of security guarantees for Russia,” Peskov said. Full statement here ????1 / 3
– Frederik Pleitgen (@fpleitgenCNN) February 14, 2022
Zelensky speech: I was informed that the Russian invasion of Ukraine will take place on Wednesday
The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyin his sermon yesterday stated that Russia will attack Ukraine on Wednesday 16 February.
The comments of the Ukrainian leader, made in a speech to his nation posted on Facebook, come amid growing tensions between Kiev and Moscow.
Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border. The accumulation of troops had raised concerns among their allies USA and NATO that Russia is planning a military invasion, but Moscow has consistently denied any such plans.
Officials from Ukraine, Russia and NATO have been in diplomatic talks for weeks in hopes of easing tensions in the region, but the talks have made no progress.
In fact, Volodymyr Zelensky declared Wednesday, February 16, a national “Day of Unity” in Ukraine.
skai.gr, , CNN
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