State Department: US authorities have never called the exact timing of the “Russian invasion” of Ukraine

The US authorities have never given an exact timeline for a “Russian invasion” of Ukraine, State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a press briefing.

According to him, the US administration “is trying to convey that Russia has created opportunities for attack at any time.” Price stressed that the fact that the “invasion” has not yet begun “does not mean that the US had incorrect intelligence.”

He also noted that US concern about the situation around Ukraine “has not decreased one iota.” According to a State Department spokesman, despite Russia’s statements about the withdrawal of troops from the border, Washington sees no signs of de-escalation. “We’re actually seeing an escalation,” Price said, adding that US authorities are “watching new Russian forces arrive at the border with Ukraine and take up positions that allow them to launch an invasion at any moment.”

In addition, the State Department, according to Price, “is particularly concerned about the statements of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials about the” genocide “in the Donbass.” According to the US Foreign Office, these statements are “devoid of any foundation.”

At the same time, Price said that Washington is “impatiently awaiting” a written response from the Russian Federation as part of the security dialogue and expects that this response “will lay the foundation for future discussions between the parties.” Price stressed that the United States, for its part, is “ready for dialogue.”

Recall, earlier, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that Russia’s reports about the discovery of mass graves of civilians in the Donbass may be disinformation and “a fabricated pretext for the invasion of Ukraine.”