Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj says he expects the country to be attacked on Wednesday.
– They tell us that February 16 will be the day the invasion will take place. We want to make this day “Cohesion Day”. I have signed the provision, Zelenskyj said in an announcement to the nation on Monday night.
In connection with the increased tension on the border between Russia and Ukraine, the United States has made the decision to move its embassy in the country from the capital Kiev.
This is stated by the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. The United States is now moving its embassy to the city of Lviv in western Ukraine.
– The embassy will continue to keep in touch with the Ukrainian government, Blinken says in an announcement.
– Goes into attack position
According to Blinken, the decision to move the embassy was made as a result of Russia’s dramatic build-up of forces along the border with Ukraine.
The United States has urged all US citizens to leave Ukraine immediately. Before the weekend, the United States warned that Russia had now gathered large enough forces on the border to be able to launch an offensive “at any time”.
According to CBS reporter David C. Martin, who has been covering the Pentagon for a number of years, a source with US authorities says that satellite images show that Russian troops are moving into an attacking position.
U.S. official says satelite images show Russia troops leaving assembly points and moving to attack positions – @CBSDavidMartin reporting
— Mary Walsh (@CBSWalsh) February 14, 2022
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– Getting ready
During a press conference on Monday night Norwegian time, Pentagon’s press chief John F. Kirby stated that the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will travel to Europe on Tuesday to meet defense leaders in Belgium, Poland and Lithuania.
– Pentagon Press Chief John F. Kirby met with the press on Monday. Photo: Kevin Dietsch / AFP
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“In Poland, Austin will meet with the Prime Minister and the Secretary of Defense to strengthen US-Polish cooperation, which we believe is essential to addressing current threats and challenges,” said Kirby.
Austin also plans to meet with the defense ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia at the same time, in addition to meetings with NATO in Brussels.
Over the weekend, Putin has strengthened Russia’s military capacity at the border with Ukraine and Belarus. Putin continues to make himself clearer, and he continues to give himself alternatives if he were to choose a military resort, Kirby says.
Can attack at short notice
The press chief was asked how the Pentagon considers the reports that Russia’s troops are moving into an attacking position.
– I can not comment on specific movements. But I can say that if Putin were to choose a new invasion, he would now do everything that one would expect him to do to be ready for it, says Kirby.
– Do you still think that Putin has not made a decision to invade Ukraine?
– We still do not believe that a final decision has been made. But it is entirely possible that Putin could launch an attack at short or short notice.
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