Biden Says Ukraine Invasion Risk “Very High”; Russia Expels US Deputy Amb., Demands US Leave Eastern Europe
Summary:
- Reports overnight from both sides (Ukraine, Rebels) that shelling has begun, claiming ceasefire broken
- US envoy says evidence on the ground is that Russia is moving toward an “imminent invasion,” says “this is a crucial moment.”
- Russia expels US Deputy Ambassador Bartle Gorman
- Russia says no invasion of Ukraine in plans
- Russia issues statement demanding all US troops leave Central and Eastern Europe
- Biden says probability of invasion is “very high”, says Russia “involved in false flag moves”
- Blinken to speak at UN Security Council at 10amET
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Update (0925ET): Washington is doubling down on its allegations that Russia is planning to use a false flag attack as a pretext to invade Ukraine Russia says US failed to give a “constructive response” to its proposal, which includes the rejection of NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia.
Here’s more from Reuters:
NATO was “concerned that Russia is trying to stage a pretext for an armed attack against Ukraine.
There is still no clarity, no certainty about the Russian intentions”, the Western military alliance’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
“They have enough troops, enough capabilities to launch a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine with very little or no warning time,” he told reporters at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels. “That is what makes the situation so dangerous.”
Here’s more about today’s latest “skirmish” from Ukraine:
A senior Ukrainian government source said the shelling at the line of contact with Russian-backed separatist forces went beyond the scale of ceasefire violations routinely reported throughout the conflict.
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Update (0910ET): Ukrainian authorities claim that shelling between government forces and separatist rebels in the Donbas region has ended as of 1300 local time. Meanwhile, a flurry of headlines have hit the tape, conveying Russia’s latest round of denials.
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