Ukraine Russian

The stay of Russian troops draws Western concerns with Blinken saying it is a sign of an imminent invasion of Ukraine.

The West estimates 150,000 or more Russian troops are currently near Ukraine’s borders. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Sunday for an immediate ceasefire in the eastern part of the country. The separatists began evacuating residents on Friday saying Ukraine was planning to attack – which Kyiv denies. Russia’s Investigative Committee will investigate the case, the RIA news agency quoted it as saying. Heavy shelling was heard elsewhere in the region. The Kremlin did not comment on the Belarus drills.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Hundreds of artillery shells exploded along the contact line between Ukrainian soldiers a...

Western leaders warned that Russia was poised to attack its neighbor, which is surrounded on three sides by about 150,000 Russian soldiers, warplanes and equipment. They have threatened massive, immediate sanctions if it does. Russia held nuclear drills Saturday in neighboring Belarus and has ongoing naval drills off the coast in the Black Sea.

It comes after Boris Johnson warned that intelligence suggests Russia is planning "the biggest war in Europe since 1945".

"The rules that the world agreed on decades ago no longer work. this is a cough syrup when you need a coronavirus vaccine," he warned. Russia has gathered 150,000 soldiers, along with warplanes and equipment, near the border. And according to a Reuters reporter, multiple explosions were heard in the early hours of Sunday in the centre of the separatist-controlled city Donetsk. Top Ukrainian military officials came under a shelling attack during a tour of the front of the separatist conflict and had to flee to a bomb shelter. Mr Putin told Mr Macron the reason for the escalation is "the provocations of the Ukrainian security forces", according to a statement by the Kremlin. He also accused Western leaders of "scaremongering and warmongering" as he denied Mr Putin was enjoying the crisis and said Russia wants to get the West around the negotiating table and "see what we can do for security and guarantees for Russia's absolutely legitimate concerns". The people of Kharkiv come to listen to Father Viktor, to hear that God is with them, and to find comfort in a city - in a country - where at the moment there's precious little around. And he said Ukraine is shelling a "peaceful population" in Donbas, the Ukrainian region Russian-backed rebels took over in 2014 where both sides have accused each other of attacks, prompting the West to accuse Moscow of carrying out a "false flag" operation. Boris Johnson told the BBC intelligence suggests Russia is planning "the biggest war in Europe since 1945" and "all the signs are that the plan has already in some senses begun". Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had yesterday called for a meeting with Mr Putin in search of a resolution to the crisis. A French presidential adviser said both leaders agreed that a meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), with representatives from Ukraine and Russia, should be held on Monday.

Russia appeared to continue preparations to invade Ukraine Sunday, blaming renewed conflict in the eastern portion of that country on “provocations of the ...

The New York Times reported that one US official “called it all completely notional, and said that all evidence suggests Russia still intends to invade Ukraine in the coming days.” The possibilities for a summit seemed even bleaker after Putin ordered Russian troops to enter Eastern Ukraine on Monday. In another ominous development, joint military exercises between Russian and Belarus that had been scheduled to end this weekend were extended, the Belarusian defense minister announced on Sunday, because of increased tensions in Eastern Ukraine. The strategic exercises were the second rattling of the nuclear saber during the Ukraine crisis. Imagery from Sunday showed new field deployments of armored equipment and troops northwest of Belgorod and near Soloti and Valuyki, Russia. “This new activity” the company reported, “represents a change in the pattern of the previously observed deployments of battle groups (tanks, armored personnel carriers, artillery and support equipment). Until recently, most of the deployments had been seen primarily positioned at or near existing military garrisons and training areas. Late on Sunday, the White House said Biden had agreed “in principle” to meet with Putin in a summit broached during Macron’s call with the Russian leader. What’s the point of us shooting and proposing diplomacy at the same time?” In a CNN appearance early Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “As we’ve described it, everything leading up to the actual invasion appears to be taking place. But in its response to the call, the Kremlin emphasized allegations of provocation and belligerence by Ukraine and NATO. Moscow provided no evidence to support the claims, which appear to be untrue. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden met with the National Security Council, just days after announcing that US intelligence had convinced him Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered an invasion of Ukraine. The French readout of the call suggested that the two leaders had discussed diplomatic and other moves to de-escalate the Ukraine situation. In an aggrieved speech Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized two separatist regions of Eastern Ukraine as independent and signed orders authorizing Russian troops to enter the putative Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics for “peacekeeping functions.” The Biden administration responded by ordering limited economic sanctions related to those regions, apparently holding more sweeping sanctions in reserve should Russia undertake a wholesale invasion of Ukraine. The European Union and a variety of European countries decried Putin’s announcement and threatened their own sanctions. It was not immediately clear whether Russian troops would attempt to expand the areas occupied by Ukrainian separatists to include the rest of Donetsk and Luhansk, which are now occupied by the Ukrainian army.

The threat of full-scale invasion intensified Saturday amid shelling in Ukraine's eastern separatist regions, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ...

The weapons: Ukraine is making use of weapons such as Javelin antitank missiles and Switchblade “kamikaze” drones, provided by the United States and other allies. - The Beijing Olympics draw to a close. Putin, who used the event to rail against NATO expansion in 2007, boycotted this year’s meeting even as Russia’s looming threats to Ukraine dominated the agenda. The satellites will be watching closely to see to see if that happens. Niinisto told the New York Times earlier this month that he had noticed a change in Putin’s “state of mind” and “decisiveness” with regard to Ukraine, but said that Putin acts in ways that are difficult to predict — perhaps intentionally to sow confusion. “And I would like to say to you that we are not threatening to anybody.” “We are calling not only on the aggressor, which is Russia, but also on all of our friends and allies to get together and use every opportunity to still deter Russia from invading.” “They hoped to sow division, to weaken our alliance, to divide us. He drove with a friend from Stamford, Conn., to attend Sunday’s demonstration. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “They also underscored the need for President Putin to step back from his current threats and withdraw troops from Ukraine’s border.” Before the exercise began 10 days ago, Western military analysts warned that it could be cover for an attack force to invade Ukraine from the north and potentially encircle the capital Kyiv.

US intelligence sources have claimed Russia is 'making final battle plans'. It is thought Russia will start the invasion with a cyber-assault before ...

That is the message I will take to Munich today as we redouble our efforts to prevent a grave miscalculation which would devastate Ukraine, Russia and the rest of Europe.' He alleged in a video statement that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was going to order an imminent offensive in the area. The blast rocked the Druzhba pipeline which runs from Russia to various points in eastern and central Europe. On Thursday a shell blew a hole through the wall of kindergarten in Stanytsia Luhanska That is the message I will take to Munich today as we redouble our efforts to prevent a grave miscalculation which would devastate Ukraine, Russia and the rest of Europe.' He said the US and its Western allies were more united than ever to ensure Russia pays a steep price for any invasion. Up to 700,00 civilians are being evacuated from the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk after rebel leaders yesterday claimed Ukraine was about to attack the areas. The web page, last updated in 2016, said there were a total of 16 staff. A view of a gas pipeline hit by a blast in Frunze Street, Lugansk, Ukraine on Saturday night. The aim is to reassure a nervous ally amid fears that Russia could attack Ukraine Pictured: People evacuated from the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republic are seen on a bus at a railway station ahead of departing for temporary accommodation facilities on Sunday The aim is to reassure a nervous ally amid fears that Russia could attack Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia on Sunday night issued a NOTAM (Notice to airmen), declaring the Sea of Azov a no-fly zone for commercial flights.