Russia – Ukraine | Vladimir Putin has “decided” to invade Ukraine, says Joe Biden USA | NATO | The world

Joe Biden For the first time on Friday he said he was “sure” that he was president Russian, Vladimir Putin, “I decided” The invasion of Ukraine and the escalation of the conflict are aimed at creating a “false justification” for launching the next offensive. “Week” Or “Days”.

But the President United States He opened the door for conversation. As long as he does, diplomacy is always possible. He said in a televised address from the White House that US Secretary of State Anthony Blingen would meet with his Russian envoy to Europe, Sergei Lavrov, on Thursday.

See: The United States estimates that Russia has up to 190,000 troops near Ukraine

For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron will speak on the phone Putin Sunday, the day after a call with his Ukrainian representative, Volodymyr Zhelensky.

Zhelensky He is scheduled to attend the Munich Security Conference with several international leaders until Sunday. பிடன் That openly questioned “Wisdom“Tensions are running high for his role in leaving Ukraine.

Russia denies any invasion plan But guarantees of its safety are required, such as its withdrawal NATO From Eastern Europe, Western nations reject.

“False justification”

Fear of military intervention Russian Inside Ukraine It was stronger than ever amid increasing ceasefire violations among separatists Pro-Russian And Ukrainian forces fighting in the east since 2014 Ukraine.

Leaders of pro-Russian separatist territories in the region have ordered the deportation of civilians to Russia.

“This is in line with the strategy used by the Russians in the past to create a false justification for intervening against Ukraine,” Biden said after another conference call with his NATO allies.

See: Ukraine is fighting on two fronts: Russia and the Donbass border

A U.S. official on Friday estimated that Russia has 190,000 troops in Ukraine, including separatist forces.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said it was “the largest concentration of military troops” since the Cold War, and that Russia could launch an offensive without warning.

Putin blamed Kiev

PutinIn turn charged Kiev Conflict provoked and pointed out “The situation is deteriorating Donbass”An area where pro-Russian forces are fighting with the support of the Ukrainian military Moscow For eight years.

“All Kiev has to do is sit down at the negotiating table with the (separatist) representatives Donbass And come to an agreement “, He said.

Western nations have promised catastrophic sanctions Moscow Maybe Invasion of Ukraine. Will be converted to Russia A “Baria”, A senior U.S. official promised Friday.

But Putin He again dismissed the threat: “It simply came to our notice then. Whether there is a reason or not, they will find one because their goal is to stop Russia’s growth. “

See: Putin conducts ‘strategic’ maneuvers with ballistic and cruise missiles near Ukraine on Saturday

To increase tension, the Ministry of Defense Russia Announced that Putin He will personally oversee military exercises, including nuclear missiles, scheduled for Saturday.

Retired or not?

Throughout the day, soldiers in eastern Ukraine accused each other of violating the ceasefire and using heavy weapons.

AFP reports that shelling was heard in the afternoon in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Stanitza Lukanska. He was already the target the day before the shots hit a nursery school.

Denis Bushlin, the separatist leader of the Donetsk region, announced the expulsion of civilians to Russia. “Women, children and the elderly first”.

His companion from the neighbor “Republic“Leonid Paschetnik from Lukansk did the same thing before being called.”All capable men armed to defend their homeland ”.

Putin ordered each person leaving the area to pay 10,000 rubles (about 114 euros, 129 dollars). Russian television channels showed footage of children being evicted from the orphanage’s courtyard.

When ground tension increases, Russia It was reaffirmed on Friday to continue the withdrawal of military units in the suburbs of Ukraine. But Ukraine has responded that this will not happen.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also said that the Russian military is sending “More powers” And prepare an intervention “Approaching the border, deploying forces, increasing their logistics capabilities.”

At the same time, Washington and London blamed Moscow Being “Responsible” Despite the Kremlin’s denials, there have been recent cyber attacks against official Ukrainian websites this week.

Russia says it is not going away from there Ukraine Until Western nations annex Kiev to NATO and admit that they will never allow US troops to withdraw from Eastern Europe, it is effectively creating a new version of the Cold War-era sphere of influence on the continent.

The conflict between heavily armed pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian government forces in the east of the country lasted eight years, killing more than 14,000 people and forcing more than 1.5 million to flee their homes.

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