Antony Blinken, Secretary of the United States, announced Monday that the U.S. will temporarily move embassy operations from Ukraine to Lviv due to the “dramatic acceleration” in the buildup Russian forces. According to three sources, this is consistent with CBS News’ report that the U.S. plans to withdraw all personnel in Kyiv within the next 24 to 48 hour.
Blinken stated Monday that the diplomatic path remains open if Russia decides to engage in good will. “We look forward returning our staff to embassy as soon conditions allow.”
The U.S. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has already issued an order to all non-emergency employees that they must leave. The U.S. Embassy tweeted Saturday morning, that “continued reports about a Russian buildup at the border with Ukraine indicated potential for significant military action.”
Sunday’s suspension of consular services at the Kyiv Embassy was planned. Officials from the United States believe Russia could attack and invade as early as next week.
Although the U.S. has warned of severe economic and political consequences for Russia if it invades Ukraine, this has not stopped Russia from building up its massive military force. According to U.S. officials, Russia has now 80% of the forces required for a full-scale invasion and the rest are on their way. More than 100,000 Russian troops have been assembled along Ukraine’s borders – to the east in Russia and north in Belarus.
National security advisor Jake Sullivan warned Sunday Morning on “Face the Nation,” that Russian President Vladimir Putin could issue orders for an invasion “essentially at any moment.”
“We have witnessed over the past 10 days a dramatic acceleration of the build-up Russian forces and the dispositions of those forces so that they could launch a militaristic action essentially any time,” Sullivan stated. They could do it this week, but they still need to get the go-order from Putin.
According to a White House official, Sullivan will be visiting Capitol Hill Monday morning to update lawmakers about the latest developments in Ukraine and Russia. In the morning, he will brief the House leadership and the leadership of the national security-related committees and the ranking members in the Senate on the latest developments with Russia and Ukraine. In the afternoon, Sullivan will brief the Senate leadership and leadership as well as the ranking members in the national security-related commissions.
On Sunday, President Biden met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President. A Ukrainian reading of the call shows that Zelenskyy invited President Biden to Ukraine. He said it would send a powerful signal and help to de-escalate.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is fully aware of all risks and is prepared for any developments. According to the readout, Zelenskyy stated that “we will stop any escalation toward Ukraine.” According to the readout, “The capital of Ukraine Kyiv and other cities in our state – Kharkiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Odesa – are safe and under reliable security.”
According to the White House, Mr. Biden reiterated the United States’ commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty & territorial integrity during the call. According to the White House, Mr. Biden stated that the United States will respond swiftly and decisively together with its Allies, partners and allies to any Russian aggression against Ukraine.
According to the White House, both leaders agreed that diplomacy and deterrence were important in order to respond to Russia’s military buildup at Ukraine’s borders.
The US mission to OSCE confirmed that the Americans who were part of the Organization for Security & Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE), special monitoring mission to Ukraine were recalled on Sunday. The monitors were present in all parts of the country, but they were particularly concerned with the fragile ceasefire in eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian separatists are fighting since the 2014 Russian invasion. The U.S. mission was concerned that people in eastern Ukraine were “highly vulnerable” and warned that security conditions could “deteriorate quickly,” especially in Russia-occupied Crimea, which is Russia-controlled east Ukraine.
Russian intelligence claims that things are going on in the east Ukraine, and particularly the Donbas region.
Sullivan acknowledged there is a possibility that Russia could choose that area to launch a fake flag attack to justify an invasion. “Face the Nation” host Sullivan stated that Russia may be looking for a pretext to launch an attack on Russian proxy forces or Russian citizens in Ukraine.
John Kirby, Pentagon Press Secretary, stated Saturday that 160 members from the Florida National Guard have been in Ukraine since November to advise and mentor Ukrainian forces. He said they would be moving “elsewhere” in Europe “out of an abundance caution.”
To bolster America’s military presence in Eastern Europe, the U.S. will deploy additional troops. On Friday, the Pentagon announced that it will send 3,000 additional troops to Poland. These troops will be joining the 3,000 already present in Poland and Romania to support allies should Putin make a move.
According to the White House, the American military will not enter Ukraine to combat Russia or to assist with evacuations.
In an interview with Lester Holt, NBC, Mr. Biden stated that “that’s a war when Americans and Russians start firing at each other.” This interview aired just before the Super Bowl.
He stated that Putin does not know how to put American lives in danger.
He said, “I hope that if he is foolish enough to go in,” he added.
