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Russian troops are preparing to launch an invasion of Ukraine in the “next days”. This statement was made at a meeting of the UN Security Council US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. He added that if this still does not happen, then Washington will take it with relief and will be ready for any criticism.
He stressed that, according to information received by the United States, Russian forces, including ground troops, aircraft, ships, are preparing to launch an attack against Ukraine “in the coming days.” According to Blinken, Russia could “create a pretext” before the offensive: it could allegedly be a “violent event” in Ukraine or “some kind of accusation against the Ukrainian government.”
According to him, reports UNN, Russia has accumulated more than 150 thousand troops on the border with Ukraine in Belarus and in the Crimea. Russia’s main target could be Kiev, Blinken added.
“We also have information that Russia is targeting specific groups of the Ukrainian population. We warned the Ukrainian government that this could happen,” says Blinken.
Earlier, US President Joe Biden said that a “Russian invasion” was possible within the next few days.
So, reports UNN with reference to information from CNN, the Biden administration believes that Russia may try to use today’s meeting in the UN Security Council as such a “pretext” for an offensive. The representative of the administration pointed out that the Russian mission to the UN allegedly distributed among the members of the Security Council a document alleging the commission of war crimes during the armed conflict in the South-East of Ukraine.
CNN also notes that Russia continues to build up troops around Ukraine. Currently, part of the military forces are said to be located 50 km from the Ukrainian border. It is also reported about the arrival of three more ships in the Crimea and military equipment with helicopters in the south-west of Russia – 25 km from the border with Ukraine.
The head of the State Department also invited Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to meet in Europe next week. Blinken also confirmed that the US has received Russian responses on security assurances.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield also indicated on her Twitter that Russia is “moving towards an imminent invasion” of Ukraine.
Our goal is to convey the gravity of the situation. The evidence on the ground is that Russia is moving towards an imminent invasion. This is a crucial moment. Today’s Council meeting should not distract us from that. It should focus on what is happening right now in Ukraine.
— Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (@USAmbUN) February 17, 2022
“Our goal is to convey the seriousness of the situation. Evidence “on the ground” suggests that Russia is moving towards an inevitable invasion. This is a defining moment,” wrote Thomas-Greenfield.
Meanwhile, according to the press secretary of Russian President Vladimir Putin Dmitry Peskov, statements by Western authorities, including US President Joe Biden, about Russia’s alleged intention to attack Ukraine only increase the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis.
Such statements, Peskov stressed, only escalate tensions.
Source: Rosbalt
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
