US President Joe Biden said Friday that he is “convinced” that Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine, including an assault on the capital, as tensions along the militarised border rose with attacks the West called “false-flag” operations meant to create a pretext for invasion.
Pro-Russian rebels evacuated residents from the fighting zone after shelling targeted a relief convoy. The eastern city of Donetsk was attacked by a car bombing, although no one was injured.
Biden said that view had changed after weeks of claiming the US wasn’t sure if Putin had taken the final decision to invade, citing American information. Biden stated, “As of this moment, I’m certain he’s made the decision.” “There’s a good explanation behind that.” The attack could happen in the “coming days,” he said again.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin announced major nuclear drills to show off its military might, and Putin promised to defend Russia’s national interests against what it regards as Western threats.
Biden reaffirmed his warning of crippling economic and diplomatic penalties against Russia if it invades, and encouraged Putin to reconsider his strategy. He claimed that the US and its Western allies were more united than ever before in their determination to ensure Russia paid a price for the invasion.
With an estimated 150,000 Russian troops stationed along Ukraine’s borders, US and European officials are concerned that the long-running separatist struggle in eastern Ukraine could be the catalyst for a larger strike.
The number of Russian battalion tactical groups stationed in the border area has increased to 125, up from 83 two weeks ago, according to the official. 750 to 1,000 soldiers make up each battalion tactical group.
The immediate focus of concern was on eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces have been fighting pro-Russian insurgents since 2014 in a conflict that has claimed the lives of over 14,000 people.
There were no reports of injuries, and the circumstances of the blast were not independently confirmed. The burnt-out automobile was examined by uniformed men.
A UN relief convoy was shelled by rebels near the sensitive line of contact in the Luhansk region, according to Ukraine’s military chief. There were no casualties reported. Rebels denied involvement, accusing Ukraine of orchestrating an act of provocation.
Separatists claim Ukrainian forces have increased their firing along the border. A barrage of shelling on Thursday ripped through the walls of a kindergarten, injuring two people and disrupting basic connections. Both sides claimed responsibility for beginning fire.
The threat to global security, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is “more complex and perhaps higher” than it was during the Cold War. He said at the Munich conference that even a minor blunder or misunderstanding between great nations may have disastrous results.
Also on Friday, the US administration issued updated estimates of Russia’s military presence in and surrounding Ukraine. According to Michael Carpenter, the permanent US envoy to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, there are between 169,000 and 190,000 personnel, up from roughly 100,000 on Jan. 30.
Military soldiers along the border, in Belarus, and in occupied Crimea, as well as Russian National Guard and other internal security units, and Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine, are all included in the latest estimate. Separatists inside Ukraine, the National Guard, and Crimean troops were not included in the prior US estimate of 150,000.
The Kremlin reminded the rest of the world of its nuclear power by scheduling weekend nuclear drills. Putin will keep an eye on the massive drill, which will include multiple mock missile launches on Saturday.
“There are so many false allegations, and continually reacting to them is more work than it’s worth,” Putin said when asked about Western predictions of a possible Russian invasion on Wednesday, which never materialised.
He stated, “We are doing what we believe is required and will continue to do so.” “We have well-defined objectives that are aligned with national objectives.”
