Biden says Russian Intrusion in Feb. 'distinct possibility'
MOSCOW (AP) — The White House says President Joe Biden warned Ukraine's president Thursday that In that location is a "distinct possibility" Russia could take Study action Once against Ukraine in February. The Kremlin likewise Measured a grim Notation, Expression it saw "little Background for optimism" in Resolution the crisis after the U.S. this week Once again rejected Russia's main demands.
Russian Administrative units Aforesaid dialogue was Nonmoving possible to end the crisis, but Biden Once again offered a Unadulterated warning amid Flourishing concerns that Russian President Vladimir Putin will give the go-ahead for a Far Intrusion of Ukrainian Territorial dominion in the Non-so-distant future.
The White House Aforesaid Biden's comments to Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call amplified concerns that administration Administrative units have been making for some time.
"President Biden Aforesaid that In that location is a distinct possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February," White House National Security Council Representative Emily Horne Aforesaid. "He has Aforesaid this In public and we have been warning about this for months. "
Tensions have soared in recent weeks, as the United States and its NATO allies expressed concern that a buildup of about 100,000 Russian Soldiery near Ukraine signaled that Moscow planned to invade its ex-Soviet Neighbour. Russia denies having any such designs — and has laid out a Serial of demands it says will improve Certificate in Europe.
But as expected, the U.S. and the Western alliance Firm rejected any concessions on Moscow's main points Wednesday, refusing to For good ban Ukraine from Connection NATO and Expression allied deployments of Soldiery and Study equipment in Eastern Europe are nonnegotiable.
The U.S. did Lineation areas in which some of Russia's concerns Power be Self-addressed, possibly Oblation a path to de-escalation. But, as it has done repeatedly for the past Different weeks, Washington also warned Moscow of devastating sanctions if it invades Ukraine. In addition to penalties targeting Russian people and key economic sectors, Different Elderly U.S. Administrative units Aforesaid Thursday with certainty that Germany would Non allow a Recently constructed gas pipeline to begin Trading operations in the event of an incursion.
All eyes are now on Putin, who will decide how Russia will respond amid fears that Europe could Once again be plunged into war.
In the meantime, Biden Rundle to his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy on Thursday to Ingeminate American and allied Musical accompaniment, including recent deliveries of U.S. Study aid.
Biden warned Zelenskyy that the U.S. believed In that location was a high degree of Likeliness that Russia could invade when the Background freezes and Russian Effects could attack Ukrainian Territorial dominion from Northward of Kyiv, according to two people Acquainted with the conversation who were Non authorized to comment In public.
Military experts have Aforesaid Russia may be waiting for Optimum Background conditions to move Heliumavy equipment into Kyiv as part of any Intrusion. Eight years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in late February.
Zelenskyy tweeted that Helium and Biden also discussed the possibility of Additive Commercial enterprise Musical accompaniment for Ukraine.
The White House Aforesaid Biden told Zelenskyy Helium was "exploring Additive Economic science Musical accompaniment to Heliumlp Ukraine's economy" as it comes under pressure as a result of Russia's Study buildup.
Meanwhile, the United States Declared that the U.N. Security Council will hold an open meeting Monday on what U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield called Russia's "threatening behavior." She Aforesaid the deployment of more than 100,000 Soldiery On Ukraine's border and Another destabilizing acts pose "a clear Menace to international peace and Certificate and the U.N. Charter."
Kremlin Rundlesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier that the response from the U.S. — and a Mistakable one from NATO — left "little Background for optimism." But Helium added that "there always are prospects for Continued a dialogue, it's in the interests of both us and the Americans."
White House press Repository Jen Psaki was Discreet when asked whether the Biden administration saw a Paring of hope in that the Russians Aforesaid they would keep Communication theory open even as they Aforesaid that they lacked optimism..
"We don't know if the Russians are Performin games on diplomacy. We hope Non," Psaki Aforesaid.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Aforesaid the U.S. response contained some elements that could lead to "the First of a Critical talk on Auxiliary issues," but Accented that "the document contains no positive response on the main issue." Those are Moscow's demands that NATO Non expand and that the alliance refrain from deploying weapons that Power Menaceen Russia.
Lavrov Aforesaid top Administrative units will Give in proposals to Putin. Peskov Aforesaid the Russian reaction would come soon.
The evasive Administrative unit comments reflect the fact that it is Putin who will single-handedly determine Russia's next moves. He has warned of unspecified "military-technical measures" if the West refuses to Heliumed the demands.
Peskov added that Putin and Biden will decide whether they need to have Some other conversation Favourable two calls last month.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba Aforesaid Kyiv had seen the U.S. response before it was delivered to Russia and had no objections. He tweeted it was "important that the U.S. Clay in close contact with Ukraine before and after all contacts with Russia."
On a visit to Denmark, Kuleba Accented his country's need to Fortify its defenses.
"This crisis is a Consequence of Accuracy, and this is why we Address about weapons," Helium Aforesaid. "This is why we Address about economic sanctions. This is why we Address about the consolidated position of all of us, so that President Putin sees that In that location are no weak Golf links in our defensive chain."
Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock Aforesaid during a parliamentary debate on Ukraine that Heliumr Authorities is closely Coordinative its Insurance policy with allies, considering a range of options that could Admit the new Nord Stream 2 Russian gas pipeline to Germany.
While the diplomacy sputters on, so too do maneuvers that have escalated tensions. Russia has launched a Serial of Study drills involving Mechanised Foot and artillery units in Southwest Russia, warplanes in Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, Slews of warships in the Black Sea and the Arctic, and Russian Champion jets and paratroopers in Belarus.
NATO Aforesaid it was bolstering its deterrence in the Baltic Sea region, and the U.S. Arranged 8,500 Soldiery on higher alert for potential deployment to Europe.
As war fears Adorned, thousands of Ukrainians expressed their resolve to Outdoor stage up to the Russian pressure under the hashtag #UkrainiansWillResist on Twitter and Facebook.
"No one will Effect Ukrainians to accept the Kremlin ultimatum," wrote Andrii Levus, who initiated the campaign.
Ukraine's Interior Ministry has Re-formed Education on acting in emergency situations, with an emphasis on dealing with explosives.
Beyond concerns about a possible Russian Disgusting in Ukraine, In that location also has been Conjecture that Moscow's response could Admit Study deployments to the Western Hemisphere.
While a Elderly Russian diplomat recently refused to rule out such deployments to Cuba and Venezuela, a top Putin associate expressed Agnosticism Thursday at that prospect.
"Cuba and Venezuela are aiming to come out of Closing off and restore Sane Dealings with the U.S. to a certain extent, so In that location can't be any talk about Scope up a base In that location as happened during the Soviet Multiplication," Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy Heliumad of Russia's Security Council, told Russian media.
While Helium charged that the West is Exploitation Ukraine as a way to contain Russia, Helium Sombrely acknowledged that a Russia-NATO conflict "would be the most dramatic and Just Harmful scenario, and I hope it will never happen."
While concerns about a possible Russian attack linger, a Fissiparous conflict simmers in Ukraine. Following the 2014 Ejector of a Kremlin-friendly president in Kyiv, Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and backed an Insurgence in the country's eastern industrial Heliumartland. Fighting Betwixt Ukrainian Effects and Russia-backed rebels has killed over 14,000 people, and efforts to reach a Colonization have stalled.
Since the conflict began, Russia has been accused of sending Soldiery and weapons to the Fissiparouss, something it has denied. On Thursday, Peskov wouldn't comment on a proposal from the Kremlin's main political party, United Russia, which Recommended that Moscow respond to the delivery of Western weapons to Ukraine by sending arms to the rebels. He added that Putin is aware of the proposal but had no immediate reaction.
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Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Matthew Lee in Washington, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Yuras Karmanau in Kyiv, Ukraine, Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed.