Bila Tserkva, Vasylkiv, Myronivka(13:40). Red Alert: aerial threat. Sirens sounding. Take cover now!
Kyiv, Dnipro, Cherkasy, Kramators’k(13:39). Red Alert: aerial threat. Sirens sounding. Take cover now!
Kyiv(13:34). Red Alert: aerial threat. Sirens sounding. Take cover now!
New State Dept warning issued for Ukraine: "The security situation continues to be unpredictable due to the increased threats of Russian military action. U.S. citizens should consider departing now”
US senior admin official on Russia's UNSC presidency: "I think the bigger issue and maybe the question is how Russia wants to use the events that it puts on the calendar in February to address or potentially distract from the situation in Ukraine and its own actions”
Asked about Ukraine, Biden tells White House reporters the US will be moving troops to Eastern Europe in the NATO countries in the near term, per @nancook with the president
2 year ago UK prime minister Boris Johnson will speak to Russia's president Putin in coming days on Ukraine crisis. - Coming week could be important one for Johnson on foreign policy stage as he looks to assert UK role in mediating crisis
PM Johnson urges Putin to back down to avoid a "bloodbath"
2 year ago Rep. Gregory Meeks, who is leading a congressional delegation in Ukraine, says there must be a "plan A and a plan B, because we don't know what Putin will do" as Russia's troop buildup near Ukraine continues. Meeks added he's "confident" Ukrainians will defend their country
Zelensky had phone call with Macron
US has approached Hungary about temporary troop deployment, says Hungarian FM. Hungary "received an American request about temporary deployment of troops" in the country, FM Peter Szijjarto said Friday. Defense Ministry is conducting talks on the matter
"If war were to break out on a scale and scope that is possible, the civilian population will suffer immensely," Gen. Milley warns. He tells @barbarastarrcnn if the forces massed by Russia were unleashed on Ukraine, "it would be horrific, it would be terrible”
.@POTUS "does not intend to put combat troops into #Ukraine for the purpose of conducting combat operations" per @SecDef
U.S. military's top officer: Russia hasn't built up forces this large since the Cold War
U.S. military's top officer: "We strongly encourage Russia to stand down." Gen. Milley says Ukraine has the "right to be independent”
"We will stay united with our @NATO allies" per @SecDef "A move on #Ukraine will accomplish the very thing #Russia says it does not want - a NATO alliance strengthened & resolved on its Western flank"
Another shipment of US military aid to #Ukraine just arrived today, per @SecDef
US Sec. of Def Lloyd Austin says Putin "clearly now has that capability" to attack Ukraine. "There are multiple options available to him, including the seizure of cities and significant territories"
"Conflict is not inevitable" per @SecDef "There is still time & space for diplomacy"
2 year ago .@SecDef Lloyd Austin, @thejointstaff Chair Gen mark Milley speak to the media
Russia's military buildup near Ukraine has expanded to include supplies of blood along with other medical materials that would allow it to treat casualties, a key indicator of Moscow's military readiness, three U.S. officials tell @Reuters
2 year ago Minister of Derense of Ukraine: This time the 4th bird delivered 81 tons of ammunition of various calibers to Ukraine. Next week we are waiting next U.S. planes with military-technical assistance to strengthen defense capabilities
Zelensky says the White House is making the Russian invasion threat "as burning as possible" - "in my opinion, this is a mistake." Again criticizes withdrawals of staff/families from Western embassies - says the moves were "redundant and wrong"
Zelensky: "I don't think the White House is going very wrong in their analysis. I think that they are participating in this informational situation that is created around our borders"
Zelensky says "we do see" the 100,000 Russian troops. "If it happens, it will be open war. A horrible war, and we understand these things"
Zelensky says it was a "mistake" for Western embassies - the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia - to withdraw families and non-essential staff. "In these circumstances, everyone is essential"
Zelensky says Putin invited him to Sochi, asks why there: "Do you want me to ski there?" Suggests Odessa instead. "Let's swim in the sea."
Zelensky, still asking questions to Putin: "Why are you proposing things that won't work? This is just blunt cynicism at high level."
2 year ago Zelensky: I don't want Ukraine to be a result between president Biden and President Putin. President Biden assured me that nothing will be decided behind Ukraine's back about the destiny and future about our country
Zelensky says he'd ask Putin: "Why do you need so many soldiers there?.... Why do you need to have drills specifically on that territory, on that border?... What is this sado-masochism? What is the pleasure of someone being afraid?"