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Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a massive nuclear drill, while the Pentagon declared a Russian invasion of Ukraine inevitable. Photo/Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS
Earlier, the United States announced that Russian troops gathered near the Ukrainian border were in a position to strike.
As Western nations fear the start of one of the worst conflicts since the Cold War, Austin said Russian troops are starting to disengage and move closer to the border with its neighbour.
“We hope he steps back from the brink of conflict,” he told a news conference about a visit to Lithuania, adding that an invasion of Ukraine was inevitable.
Also read: Putin Oversees Massive Nuclear Exercises, Ukrainian President Meets Allies
Russia has deployed its troops near the Ukrainian border while demanding that NATO refuse to join the alliance.
Moscow has been saying that predictions that it is planning to invade Ukraine are wrong and dangerous. Moscow claims it has withdrawn its troops while Washington and its allies insist that the troop buildup is only increasing.
Pro-Russian separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine earlier announced full military mobilization, a day after ordering women and children to flee to Russia, citing threats of an imminent attack by Ukrainian forces.
Kiev vehemently denies the accusations and Washington says it is part of a Russian plot to create a pretext for an invasion of Ukraine.
Several explosions were heard early Saturday in the northern separatist-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. Its origin is not immediately clear.
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