Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Russian occupation forces carried out yet another provocation

Russian occupation forces have carried out another military provocation at the line of contact in the contentious Donbas region, the Ukrainian Army said in a statement on Monday. The ceasefire violation was carried out with an aim of falsely accusing Ukrainian service members of launching an offensive on the Russian-backed separatists. “Russian aggressor opened heavy armament fire from the settlement of Lobacheve targeting Luhansk,” stated Ukraine’s armed forces. 

Ukraine’s soldiers, stated the Kyiv’s Army, have been refraining from any aggressive acts that could possibly trigger a violent response. But the Russian-backed occupation forces continue to destroy civilian infrastructure on the temporarily occupied territories, as well as sporadically shell civilian settlements soaring tensions in the contested Donbas region. Ukraine’s Joint Forces command stressed that the Ukraine Army continues to strictly abide by the Minsk Agreements and the International Humanitarian Law while battling ceasefire breach and mortar shelling from the Russian rebels. 

“It is obvious that the adversary continues to use the Russian propaganda machine to wage information warfare, to falsely accuse the Armed Forces of Ukraine and to further escalate the situation,” asserted Ukraine’s Army. It went on to add, that the Russian occupation forces are demonstrating “their cowardness and complete disregard for the lives and health of the local civilian population.”

US President Joe Biden convened a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the developments regarding Russia’s military build-up near Ukraine's border. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin attended the meeting. Earlier, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki informed that US President Joe Biden continues to monitor the evolving situation in Ukraine. Biden is being updated regularly about events on the ground by his national security team, according to the statement released by the White House. They further reiterated that Russia could attack Ukraine "at any time."

Russia extended military drills with Belarus that were originally set to end on Sunday near Ukraine’s northern borders, AP reported. The decision to extend military exercises comes amid fears that sustained shelling along the contact line between troops and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine could result in military attack. Russia held nuclear drills and conventional exercises in Belarus and is undergoing naval drills off the coast in the Black Sea.

US President Joe Biden had a telephonic conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on February 20. During the call, Biden and Macron discussed ongoing "diplomacy and deterrence efforts" in response to Russia's military build-up near Ukraine's border, according to the White House readout. 

UK Prime Minister spoke to French President Macron over a phone call to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Both the leaders updated each other on their diplomatic efforts, including President Macron’s call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Johnson called Putin's commitment to Macron a "welcome sign" that he might be willing to find a diplomatic solution, according to the UK government readout of the call. During the call, both sides agreed on the need for Russia and Ukraine to meet their commitments under the Minsk agreement. Furthermore, they called on Putin to pull back from current threats and roll back troops from Ukraine's border. During the call, UK PM emphasised that Ukraine’s voice must be central in all the discussions. 

As tensions along Ukraine's border reach an all-time high, an incoming shell, reportedly from the Ukrainian side, damaged a house in Petrovsky on Sunday, February 20. Republic TV's Patrik Lancaster, who has been reporting from ground zero in the Donetsk region, accessed visuals that show damage to a house caused by the shelling. Fortunately, no one was injured. While speaking to Lancaster, the woman claimed that the shelling which damaged her house came from Ukrainian controlled territory. In visuals obtained by Republic Media Network, the woman shows a glass window that was broken as the shells landed outside her house. 

The French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 20. The phone call between the two leaders came just after Macron held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone, according to the statement released by Elysee Palace. During the phone call, Zelenskyy reaffirmed his commitment to not respond to provocations and respect the ceasefire. According to the Elysee Palace statement, Europeans and NATO allies continue to follow the development of the situation and to coordinate the "means of pressure and deterrence necessary."

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with his French counterpart in a follow-up to the talks during Macron’s recent visit to Moscow and regular telephonic conversation. During the call, the two leaders had an in-depth discussion of the development around Ukraine. Furthermore, Macron and Putin discussed "developments regarding long-term legal security guarantees for the Russian Federation," according to the statement released by Kremlin. During the call, both sides expressed "serious concerns" due to the "quickly deteriorating situation" along the contact line in Donbas.

Russian President highlighted provocations from Ukrainian militants as the reason for the escalation. They also held talks on the modern weapons and ammunition sent by NATO member countries to Ukraine which they insisted were "encouraging Kiev to pursue a military solution to the Donbass problem." Considering the current situation, Macron and Putin called for a diplomatic solution between the foreign ministers and political advisors to the leaders of the Normandy format countries. Both sides expressed that the meetings will help to restore the ceasefire and ensure progress in settling conflict around Donbas. 

"Attention was drawn to the modern weapons and amunitions being sent to Ukraine by NATO member countries, which is encouraging Kiev to pursue a military solution to the Donbass problem. As a result, civilians in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics are suffering and being forced to leave for Russia to save themselves from intensifying attacks," Kremlin said in a statement. 

"It was emphasised once again that Kiev is only imitating a negotiating process and continuous to refuse to implement the Minsk agreements, as well as the agreements reached as part of the Normandy format," Kremlin added in the statement. 

A day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that his country would not respond to provocations in the eastern Donbass region, on Saturday, he reiterated his stand and called for an "immediate" ceasefire in the conflict region. Notably, the statement from the Ukrainian President came after he and French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephonic conversation on Sunday, February 20.

Poland, which currently holds the chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has announced that it will convene an 'extraordinary session' of the group’s permanent council on Ukraine. The meeting will be attended by the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine Mikko Kinnunen, and Ambassador Yaar Halit Ivik, Chief of OSCE's Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine. A letter was posted on Twitter by Adam Halacinskie, Poland’s permanent representative to the OSCE.

Residents of the rebel-controlled Donetsk were having a hard time withdrawing cash on Saturday after evacuation orders were issued the day before. Separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine have ordered a full military mobilization amid growing fears in the West that Russia is planning to invade the neighboring country.

The announcement came amid a spike in violence along the line of contact between Ukrainian forces and the pro-Russia rebels in recent days. With an estimated 150,000 Russian troops now posted around Ukraine’s borders, the long-simmering separatist conflict could provide the spark for a broader attack.

More than 6,600 people have been evacuated from Donetsk, and some 25,000 people have left Luhansk, with 10,000 preparing to leave, separatist officials said. Russia has issued about 700,000 passports to residents of the rebel-held territories. Claims that Russian citizens are being endangered might be used as justification for military action.

(Source: AP)

Western countries are repeatedly predicting dates accusing Russian of an armed invasion of Ukraine, while Russia has denied such reports in the past, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. Putin is not taking notice of such baseless statements and false hysteria created by the West, Peskov iterated. Moscow appeals to Western partners’ reason for hurling war narrative, as he asserted, that such remarks can have adverse consequences on regional security,  Peskov said in a television interview aired on the state-run Rossia 1 broadcaster.

After meeting with the Ukraine’s Zelenskyy on Saturday, World Bank President David Malpass said that the World Bank is readying a $350m disbursement to Ukraine. The funds will be sanctioned by the end of March as part of a plan for short- and long-term financing, he said, according to several reports. The two met in Munich as Russia’s strategic nuclear forces held exercises supervised by Putin. 

Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, on Sunday said that there was no “point for Russia attacking anyone” as he denied claims of the West, US, and NATO that Russia is planning an ‘imminent’ invasion of Kyiv in the coming days.

In a television interview aired on the state-run Rossia 1 broadcaster, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Peskov said: “We urge you to ask yourself the question: what is the point of Russia attacking anyone?” He then asked the Western partners to “come to reason”. Peskov slammed the United States and NATO alliance accusing that they have “not been very good in history.” He questioned, which country on the globe has Russia invaded in the past.

“We remind you that Russia has never attacked anyone throughout its history. And Russia, which has survived so many wars, is the last country in Europe that wants to speak at all, even pronounce the word ‘war’” said Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov. 

He further warned that any “any spark, any unplanned incident or any minor planned provocation can lead to irreparable consequences.”

French President Emmanuel Macron and Russia's leader Vladimir Putin have begun talks on the situation in Ukraine on Sunday as planned, the French presidential office said in a statement. The talks began at 11 AM (1000 GMT) and are being reported as the last-ditch in the EU and West's efforts to avert a war in the region. 

India, followign other nations' advisory on Sunday asked its nationals in Ukraine to leave the country as tensions worsened and reports of ceasefire violations emerged out of Ukraine. "In view of continued tensions in Ukraine, all Indian nationals whose stay is not deemed essential and all Indian students are advised to leave Ukraine temporarily. Indian students are advised to also get in touch with respective student contractors for updates on chartered flights," ANI quoted India's embassy in Kyiv as saying.

As tensions continue to simmer on Ukraine’s eastern flank, Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin has announced that Russia and Belarus will continue military drills as the situation deteriorates in the Donbas with reports of artillery shelling on the border. "In connection with the increase in military activity near the external borders of the Union State [of Russia and Belarus] and the aggravation of the situation in the Donbas, the presidents of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation have decided to continue checks of the response forces of the Union State," Khrenin said on Sunday on Belarusian defence ministry's Telegram account.

Belarusian defense minister informed that the troops “will not withdraw” from the Minsk as was previously announced.

An intercontinental ballistic missile being launched during Russia Belarus drills Credit: Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP

Belarus’ announcement further complicates the security situation for Ukraine, Western leaders and NATO who have recently warned about Putin’s plans to stage a false flag and launch an invasion of Kyiv. Khrenin stated that the drills will involve operational training that was not conducted in the large-scale Russian-Belarusian Allied Resolve 2022 exercises between Moscow and Belarus. Khrenin asserted that the two neighbours have "pumped up" the military cooperation with modern combat weapons, and offensive arms and efforts are underway for the modernization of military and transport infrastructure as tensions soar between Russia and the West. Belarusian defense minister accused the US, and the West of ”bypassing" red lines, including the ‘new formats’ for the military absorption of Ukrainian territory into the Western bloc.

France has asked all its citizens in oblasts of Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk to leave Ukraine. According to the French government advisory, French nationals in the most exposed areas "in the oblasts of Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk," as well as in the region of Dnipro, must move away "without delay" from Ukraine. Austrian Foreign Ministry has also issued a similar warning for its citizens. 

"It is recommended to all French citizens who are not in Ukraine for a compelling reason to leave the country," said the French Foreign Ministry in a fresh advisory. 

"Travel warning for Ukraine. All Austrians are urged to leave the country immediately, with the exception of the western areas. In consular emergencies, the Austrian Embassy in Kiev provides on-site support!" read Asutralian foreign ministry update.

German Foreign Ministry has stepped up its travel and security warnings for the German nationals as it asked all of its nationals to leave the country immediately. German government cited a risk of possible military confrontation breaking out on the Ukraine Russia frontier. The latest warning is more urgent, pressed German foreign ministry in a statement. Germany's national carrier Lufthansa on Saturday stopped all flights to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and Germany has warned that there are very limited options to exit Ukraine. 

"Travel out of the country in a timely manner," the advisory read. "If there is a Russian attack on Ukraine, the options for assisting German nationals are very limited."

Ukraine on Sunday has suspended operations at checkpoint amid intense military shelling in the eastern Donbas region controlled by Russia-backed separatists. Ukrainian military sources reportedly said that the incidents of shelling across the line dividing government forces and separatists dramatically increased on Sunday. The Ukrainian government is calling the ceasefire violations under the Minsk agreement 'a provocation' blaming the Russian separatists. Russian state-affiliated has launched accusations on the Ukrainian Army for opening fire on Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. 

Ukraine accused Russian separatists of firing three times on the Schastya checkpoint using mortars and heavy anti-tank grenade launchers, while Russian reporters blamed Ukraine's armed forces for shelling six populated areas in what they call the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, citing a statement by DPR mission to the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC). It accused Ukraine Army on social media site Telegram of shelling separatist-controlled areas. 

Considering “the escalation of the situation... and the inability to guarantee the safety of the civilian population” using the checkpoint, the command was suspending its use from 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) on Sunday “for the period of the threat,” the Ukrainian military said on social media update. 

First train with refugees from the Donetsk and Lugansk areas of the Donbas region which left on Saturday evening from the Rostov region, has arrived in Voronezh, TASS correspondent reported from Voronezh-1railway station. There are nearly 500 civilians that have been evacuated from along the contact line in eastern Ukraine as intense shelling is being reported on the border. 

Russian affiliated media has reported that there are several loud explosions heard early on Sunday in the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. A total of 49 ceasefire violations have been committed by the Ukrainian armed forces, including some registered on the territory of contentious region Lugansk, Russia’s TASS reported. The attacks have targeted 27 residential areas in some of most intensive shellings in Donbas, which Russian media blames on Kyiv’s Army. 

Israel prime minister Naftali Bennett’s administration has renewed its calls for Israeli citizens to leave Ukraine ‘immediately’ citing the situation assessment of worsening tensions and war-like scenarios brewing. Israel issued the advisory ‘It’s Time To Leave’ on its government website after the Western governments continued to warn that Russia “is poised to invade” Kyiv at any time.

A statement released by Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday warned that “an eruption [of war] will be quick and severe,” as it asked Israel to leave Kyiv. The statement further read that Israel has decided to keep Israeli Ambassador Michael Brodsky in Kyiv to assist Israelis seeking to evacuate as tensions escalate to an all-time high. It went on to add that the Israel embassy staff will open the consular section today [Sunday] “to provide travel documents to citizens that require this,” according to the statement. 

Israel’s foreign ministry opened a portal for ‘Registration of Israeli citizens in Ukraine’. The site urged the Israeli citizens residing in Ukraine to register with the embassy in Kyiv today, as well as on the MFA website using a link on website. The Israel MFA reiterated its call on Israeli citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately on the dedicated site. “A series of talks held by the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with relevant parties at the Munich Security Conference and the events in eastern Ukraine, the MFA reiterates its call on Israeli citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately,” the advisory on Feb. 19 read. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that Russia Ukraine conflict’s stakes go ‘far beyond Ukraine’ and will be a “moment of peril” for the lives and safety of millions of people worldwide. A war situation will shake the foundation of the United Nations Charter, and the rules-based international order that preserves stability worldwide, said Blinken. 

“This [Russia Ukraine] crisis directly affects every member of this council and every country in the world,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to a statement by the US State Department. 

“The basic principles that sustain peace and security – principles that were enshrined in the wake of two world wars and a Cold War – are under threat,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserted. Russia Ukraine conflict is the exact kind of crisis that the United Nations – and specifically this Security Council – was created to prevent. Blinken called on the UN to address “what Russia is doing right now to Ukraine” as Putin has amassed more than 150,000 troops around Ukraine’s borders, in Russia, Belarus, occupied Crimea and troops are now in the Mediterranean.

“Our information indicates clearly that these Russian forces – including ground troops, aircraft, ships – are prepared to launch an attack against Ukraine in the coming days,” warned Blinken. 

“Here’s what the world can expect to see unfold.  In fact, it’s unfolding right now, today, as Russia takes steps down the path to war and reissued the threat of military action,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. 

Russia has fabricated a so-called “terrorist” bombing in Donbas, invented discovery of a mass grave, a staged drone strike against civilians, or a fake – even a real – attack using chemical weapons, Blinken said. Russia is describing an event in Ukraine as ‘ethnic cleansing or a genocide’ which Blinken says is mockery, Russian media, he said, has already begun to spread some of these false alarms and claims. All this, warns Blinken, is a groundwork for an ‘invented justification for war’. 

“Russian missiles and bombs will drop across Ukraine. Communications will be jammed.  Cyberattacks will shut down key Ukrainian institutions,” said Blinken. “After that, Russian tanks and soldiers will advance on key targets that have already been identified and mapped out in detailed plans.  We believe these targets include Russia’s capital –Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million people.” 

The United States has derided Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's declaration of "solidarity" with Russia. "The timing of the president of Brazil expressing solidarity with Russia, just as Russian forces are preparing to launch attacks on Ukrainian cities, could not be worse," the State Department said in a statement. 

Brazil's foreign ministry and spokesperson for Bolsonaro did not immediately respond to a request by the press to respond to the controversy. Washington had asserted diplomatic pressure on Bolsonaro to cancel the trip to Kremlin, stressing that it legitimizes Russia’s actions that cause a security threat to Eastern Europe, and his trip is, what the United States regards as a “violation of international law.”

Brazil’s so-called ‘solidarity’ with Moscow “undermines international diplomacy directed at averting a strategic and humanitarian disaster, as well as Brazil's own calls for a peaceful resolution to the crisis,” asserted US State Department. 

 

Brazil’s leader visited Moscow this week as Russian President Vladimir Putin concentrated troops, weaponry near Ukraine's borders. He posed alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, and later said in a statement he was "in solidarity with Russia.”

[Credit: AP]

Russian President Vladimir Putin, second right, and Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, second left, talk to each other during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. [Credit: AP]

"We have intense collaboration in key international forums such as the BRICS, the G20 and the United Nations, where we defend the sovereignty of states, respect for international law, and the United Nations Charter," Bolsonaro said in a statement released by his office. "We share common values, such as faith in God and the protection of the family. We stand together with all countries that cherish peace and exert efforts to this end," Brazil’s leader had added. 

[Credit: AP]

"We’ve seen reports of a major uptick of violations of the ceasefire by Russian-backed fighters attempting to provoke Ukraine — and we continue to see more disinformation pushed out to the public," says US president Joe Biden. He then stated that the events are consistent with the 'playbook' that the Russians have used before.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has warned that Russia’s increased military presence along the Ukraine border is not a “bluff,” adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin could simply start an attack on Ukraine “in short order.”

In an interview with ABC News taped this weekend, Austin stressed: “I think he [Putin] has assembled the right kind...of thing that you need to conduct a successful invasion.” He went on to add, “If they [Russia] were redeploying to the garrison, we wouldn't be seeing the kinds of things in terms of not only combat power, but also logistical support, medical support, combat aviation that we've seen in the region."

UK’s Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Saturday warned that the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which she described a “worst-case scenario” could happen as early as next week, as she accused Moscow of not being “serious about diplomacy”. Speaking to the British reporters, Truss stated that the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's speech at the Munich conference was “extremely sobering” as the latter also called for Russian authoritarian leader Putin for talks, an offer not yet heeded by Moscow. “This is one of the most dangerous moments for European security that we've experienced since early in the 20th century,” stressed UK’s foreign secretary. 

“We [UK, NATO, US and allies] need to show unprecedented unity,” Truss said, echoing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s similar calls made in his speech at the Munich conference.  “There were many people who would want to think hopefully about the situation, but I think we need to prepare for the worst-case scenario, and that worst-case scenario could happen as early as next week,” warned Truss. 

Defense sources on Sunday have told Mirror that the Russian President has ordered the use of a super-powerful non-nuclear bomb whose blast could be equivalent to 44 tons of TNT as part of his “shock and awe” campaign. The bomb when dropped from a jet, detonates mid-air, and produces effects similar to a tactical nuclear weapon. Most of the damage will be occurred due to the supersonic shockwave and extremely high temperatures.

Sources told Mirror that Russia had allegedly used the bomb in Syria and it will be dropped “to mark the beginning of the war and break the Ukrainians' spirit.”

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned that Russia is planning "the biggest war in Europe since 1945” and that there are "all the signs that the plan has already in some senses begun.” Speaking with the British broadcaster BBC, UK’s Johnson said that Kremlin's intent to launch an armed offensive on Ukraine can be established from the satellite imageries and other evidence, as troops have encircled Kyiv on all fronts.

Johnson at the Munich conference, in his hardened speech, warned Russia’s Putin that if Ukraine is invaded, it could bring about "the destruction of a democratic state" and "the shock will echo around the world”. 

"People need to understand the sheer cost in human life that could entail not just for Ukrainians but for Russians," Johnson said at the Munich security conference. He further reiterated that the world must be “in no doubt” what is at stake here, as he said that Russia has concentrated over 130,000 troops are gathering on the borders and more than 100 battalion tactical groups that not only threaten that European security but of the world. Johnson asserted that UK stands four-square behind their sovereignty and independence should Russia’s Putin launch an invasion. 

US defence officials are estimating that up to 40% to 50% of the Russian troops deployed in the frontline on the Ukrainian border are now in 'attack positions.' Reports suggest that the Russian battalion tactical groups have also expanded to between 120 and 125, as compared with the figure 83 two weeks ago. Each of the battalion tactical groups has between 750 and 1,000 soldiers now in the combat position.

Maxar technology imagery shows that Russia has deployed additional ground attack aircraft, air defense units, and drone equipment on the frontier. A new deployment of at least 50 helicopters had arrived in northwest Belarus. Warning sirens blared Donetsk and Luhansk as the artillery shelling resonated that prompted international journalists and other officials to run for cover. 

Satellite imagery shows increasing military activity at a number of key locations across Belarus, Crimea and western Russia. [Credit: Maxar Technologies]

[Credit: Maxar Technologies]

US president Joe Biden at a White House briefing said: "We have reason to believe the Russian forces are planning to and intend to attack Ukraine in the coming week. In the coming days, we believe that they will target Ukraine's capital Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million innocent people."

European observers reported over 1,500 ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine in the past 24 hours, reported Times Of Israel on Saturday. According to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization with observer status at the United Nations said that eastern Ukraine had seen the most ceasefire violations so far in a single day during the current crisis. It said the Russian military has been using artillery and mortar fire to attack the eastern Ukraine region.

On Sunday, the Donetsk People's Republic's (DPR) mission to the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination on the Ceasefire Regime (JCCC) stated that Ukrainian forces shelled various settlements in Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in Ukraine's southeast, using 120-mm calibre mortars, which are prohibited by the Minsk agreement. As per the reports of Sputnik, DPR authorities stated that a total of twenty 120-mm mortars were fired at Komunarivka and Staromykhailivka towns.

“I don't know what the president of the Russian Federation wants, so I am proposing a meeting,” Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the Munich Security Conference. He met with US Vice President Kamala Harris. Zelenskyy said Russia could pick the location for the talks. "Ukraine will continue to follow only the diplomatic path for the sake of a peaceful settlement," said Ukraine's leader. There was no immediate response to Kyiv's leader's offer of meeting from the Kremlin.

In a broadcast message with ARD on Saturday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned that there’s every sign that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is planning a ‘full-scale' invasion of Ukraine. As he attended the annual Munich Security Conference, Stoltenberg expressed concerns about Moscow’s tremendous military build-up, while he also categorically rejected claims of troop drawdown on the frontier with Kyiv.

Ukraine received a shipment of machine guns, surveillance gear, and rifles as support from the Canadian military, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said. Kyiv on Saturday also was delivered a planeload of arms and military supplies from NATO allies as the country braces for a possible invasion by Russia.

Addressing the UNSC meeting on Ukraine-Russia conflict, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said, "Over the past months, without provocation or justification, Russia has amassed more than 150,000 troops around Ukraine’s borders, in Russia, Belarus, occupied Crimea.  Russia says it’s drawing down those forces.  We do not see that happening on the ground.  Our information indicates clearly that these forces – including ground troops, aircraft, ships – are preparing to launch an attack against Ukraine in the coming days."

Self-declared people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk have started placing men of fighting age on stand-by, BBC News reported. The development comes amid a spike of violence and fears in the West about Russia using a pretext to take military action against Ukraine. Denis Pushilin, the head of the pro-Russia separatist government in Ukraine's Donetsk region has announced a full troop mobilization and called on the reservists to report at the military enlist offices, according to AP. 

Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss has warned that if Russian President Vladimir Putin is allowed to attack Ukraine, he would continue to wage war on neighbouring nations. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Mail on Sunday (local time), Truss argued that if Putin invaded Ukraine, it would pave the way for Russia to use force to take over additional former Soviet states. “We need to stop Putin because he will not stop at Ukraine,” she added.  

“He has been very clear, his ambition doesn’t just lead to him taking control of Ukraine, he wants to turn the clock back to the mid-1990s or even before then,” UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said, as quoted by Daily Mail.

As the tension between Moscow and Kyiv remains far from reaching a resolution, the US has warned of a provocative "false" chemical weapon attack by Russia before it invaded Ukraine in the "coming days." Addressing the UN Security Council (UNSC) briefing, on Saturday, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin "will start an invasion by creating an excuse to attack."

"Russia plans to manufacture a pretext for its attack...We don't know exactly the formal take. It could be fabricated so-called terrorist bombings inside Russia, the inventor discovery of the mass grave, stage drone strike against civilians, or a fake- even a real- attack using chemical weapons," US State Secretary Antony Blinken said in his statement.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has informed that US President Joe Biden continues to monitor the evolving situation in Ukraine. Biden is being updated regularly about events on the ground by his national security team, according to the statement released by the White House. Psaki further informed that Biden will hold a meeting of the National Security Council on the situation in Ukraine on Sunday. According to the statement, they reiterated that Russia could attack Ukraine "at any time." Biden also received an update on the Vice President Kamala Harris meetings at the Munich Security Conference with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg. He was also updated about Vice President's meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Greece Prime Minister Mitsotakis and leaders of the Baltic states. 

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held urgent conversation with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. Taking to his official Twitter handle, Zelenskyy shared details regarding his talks with Macron. Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted that he informed about the aggravation on the frontline and the loss faced by Ukraine and shelling of politicians and journalists. He further discussed possible ways for "immediate de-escalation" and "political-diplomatic settlement."

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss met Poland Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to discuss support for Ukraine "in the face of Russian aggression." Truss also joined Morawiecki on Munich Security Conference panel to hold talks on East-West Relations and European Security Architecture.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss met Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba to reiterate Britain's "resolute" economic, defensive and political support for Ukraine. Truss shared the details regarding her meeting with Kuleba on her official Twitter handle. She further added, "We stand shoulder to shoulder with them against Russian aggression."

The Austrian Foreign Ministry has urged its citizens to leave Ukraine and warned the people against travelling to the country with the exception of the western regions like Lviv, Transcarpathia, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi. The Austrian Foreign Ministry has issued the advisory due to the "unpredictable security situation." The ministry advised people to leave Ukraine immediately by commercial flights or land routes except for those in western regions. 

The Germany Foreign Ministry has urged German nationals to leave Ukraine and warned the people against travelling to the country citing possibility of a "military confrontation,"  ANI reported. Germany airline Lufthansa has decided to suspend flight operations to and from Kyiv and it has announced that all the flights from 21 February to 28 February will remain "affected."

At the Munich Security Conference, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that if Western countries fail to save Ukraine from a possible Russian invasion, it will have severe ramifications all over the world, including in East Asia and Taiwan. He said that they have promised the people of Ukraine and their leaders that they stand strongly behind Kyiv's sovereignty and independence.

“With an unprecedented deployment of troops on the border with Ukraine and cold war demands, Russia is challenging fundamental principles of the European peace order,” Germany’s Foreign Minsiter Annalena Baerbock said in a statement. "It is a loss that Russia is not taking advantage of this opportunity," she added. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian on Saturday held a telephonic conversation as tensions between Moscow, Ukraine, EU, the West, and its allies worsened, prompting fears of a full-blown war. Amid the heightened tensions, the French foreign ministers and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed Moscow’s proposed security guarantees. 

The two sides discussed ensuring indivisible security for all based on a balance of interests, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a press release. Russian officials reminded that ignoring Moscow's security demands will come with repercussions to the stability in Europe and elsewhere. He urged France's Jean-Yves Le Drian that all EU nations must comply with their commitments to ensure the principle of "equal and indivisible security”.

"Ignoring Russia's legitimate rights in this area adversely affects the stability not only on the European continent but also in the world," Russia Foreign Ministry cited Sergei Lavrov’s statement.

French foreign ministry office meanwhile labelled Russia’s aggressive moves, its actions and words as “out of step.”

Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba met with the US secretary of state Antony Blinken at the Munich Security Conference. The two counterparts affirmed that the Ukraine and the United States “would spare no diplomatic effort to protect Ukraine."

Accusing the Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine of over 37 violations of the ceasefire at the Line of Contact, the Ukrainian Army said one Ukrainian serviceman was killed by a shrapnel wound on Saturday. Ukraine accused Russia of starting warfare in breach of the Minsk II agreement of 2015. Russian separatists fired fresh rounds of artillery at the Ukrainian positions near Myronivske. Ukraine’s Joint Forces Operation reportedly informed that the latest ceasefire violation involves the use of 120mm mortars and 122mm artillery systems. Earlier yesterday, civilians were evacuated, particularly women and children in the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk territories 

UK has relocated its embassy in Kyiv to the city of Lviv in western Ukraine, UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) said in a press document. "The British Embassy office in Kyiv is temporarily relocating. Embassy staff are operating from the British Embassy office in Lviv," the update read. UK relocated all non-essential embassy staff  and FCDO asked British nationals to "leave now while commercial means are still available.” 

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson while speaking at the Munich conference warned that the Ukraine invasion would "echo around the world” should Russia attempt to capture Kyiv with brute force. Threatening Russia’s Putin of consequences, Johnson warned that a war would lead to the loss of thousands of lives, and the aftermath “shock will echo across the world,” referring to the NATO allies’ response to the conflict. 

“If dialogue fails and Russia chooses to use violence against an innocent and peaceful population in Ukraine, and to disregard the norms of civilized behaviour between states, and to disregard the charter of the UN, then we at this conference should be in doubt that it is in our collective self-interest that Russia should ultimately fail and be seen to fail,” UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson asserted in a defiant speech in Munich. UK PM asserted that a war provoked by Russia’s Putin  “would be followed by a long and hideous period of reprisals and revenge and insurgency.”

“Russian parents would mourn the loss of young Russian soldiers, who in their way are every bit as innocent as the Ukrainians now bracing themselves for attack,” threatened Johnson. 

As the United States’ paratroopers had arrived in Poland this week as a part of NATO deployment to deter Russian military aggression against Ukraine, footages of Russian MiG-31K Foxhound jet or MiG-31I and Tu-22M3 bombers armed with Kinzhal hypersonic land-attack missile had appeared in Kaliningrad, near the region in Baltic Sea bordering Poland and Lithuania. The video also emerged on Telegram that showed four or five Kinzhal-armed MiG-31s landings loaded with Kinzhal (“Dagger”) missile—designated the Kh-47M2 or 9-A-76609 by the Russians. 

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin earlier today has kick-started the exercises by strategic nuclear missile forces and the US believes that the Russian troops at the border with Ukraine are “poised to strike." 

[Russian Defense Ministry/Twitter/@200_zoka]

During the Munich Conference, the US vice president in her warnings to Moscow told Russian President Vladimir Putin: "Make no mistake: The imposition of sweeping and coordinated measures will inflict great damage on those who must be held accountable.” Harris' remark came as the US’ intel and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday, confirmed that Russia has been "moving into the right positions to conduct an attack.”

"They're uncoiling and now poised to strike," Austin had said at a conference during his visit to NATO member states, and while his stop at Vilnius, Lithuania where he met US rotational units. 

Harris pledged a ‘unified response’ to efforts by Russia of military invasion, as she said, "Not since the end of the Cold War has this forum convened under such dire circumstances.” She then continued, "Today, as we are all well aware, the foundation of European security is under direct threat in Ukraine.” She supported the NATO alliance treaties, under which she stated, that Washington sent Russia its written proposals. She pitched for giving "unprecedented peace, security and prosperity” a chance in Europe as she acknowledged NATO’s significance since world wars in ensuring and upholding transatlantic security. 

US Vice President Harris on Saturday warned Russia that there would be a 'swift, severe, and united' response if Russia invades Ukraine. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Harris reiterated that the NATO alliance and the US’ “greatest strength is our unity” as she also met with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on the sidelines of the conference.

In a dire warning to Russia against launching an offensive on Kyiv, and slamming Russian leader Vladimir Putin of continued war rhetoric, Harris outlined the retaliatory measures such as the"significant and unprecedented" economic sanctions and dismantling Moscow’s financial institutions. 

Harris also clarified that the US troops deployed in the Baltic countries on the eastern edge of NATO are demonstrating combat readiness, and should Russia attack Kyiv, she said, they will protect “every inch of NATO.” 

“This is a moment that has made that clear: that our unity is evidence and is a measure of our strength,” she reiterated. "We will impose far-reaching financial sanctions and export controls. We will target Russia's financial institutions and key industries. And we will target those who are complicit and those who aid and abet this unprovoked invasion," Harris said at the annual conference. 

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on Saturday watched the nuclear exercise from the situational center of the Kremlin with Belarus President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. Russia’s Aerospace Forces, the Southern Military District, the Strategic Missile Forces, the Northern and Black Sea Fleets were involved in the exercise. Russia’s Aerospace Forces successfully launched Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles amid tensions between Moscow and NATO, EU, and the West. War vessels and submarines of Russia’s Northern and Black Sea Fleets launched Kalibr cruise missiles and Zirkon hypersonic missiles at sea and ground targets.

Meanwhile in the Astrakhan region, at the Kapustin Yar training ground, a practical launch of the Iskander ground-based cruise missile was carried out, according to a release by the President of Russia’s office. From the position area of the Plesetsk state test cosmodrome, Russian forces launched a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile at the Kura test site on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Air-launched cruise missiles fired from Tu-95ms long-range strategic missile carriers hit targets at the Pemboi and Kura ranges.

From the waters of the Barents Sea, a strategic nuclear submarine of the Northern Fleet "Karelia" launched a ballistic missile "Sineva" at the Kura range.

Russia had planned exercise of the strategic deterrence forces earlier, during which the readiness of its military command and control bodies, launch combat crews, crews of warships, and strategic missile carriers to perform the assigned tasks, as well as the reliability of the weapons of strategic nuclear and non-nuclear forces were checked. 

UK will always stand up to democracy and freedom around the world, said UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Munich conference. “We cannot allow EU nations to be blackmailed by Russia, we cannot permit new division of continents in to spheres of influence,” says Boris Johnson. Gas supply Russian manipulation of the EU cannot be ignored, he added, as he stressed that UK is prepared to deter Russia’s playbook of military aggression, and retaliate to any military action. “We knew this was coming, we’ve seen this before,” asserted Boris Johnson. 

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has kick-started the exercises by strategic nuclear missile forces on Saturday, and the US believes that the Russian troops at the border with Ukraine are “poised to strike,” Russian state-affiliated agencies reported.  US military and intelligence officials told the reporters that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is holding the massive ‘nuclear weapons’ exercise this month in order to deter and warn NATO from intervening should it launch an offensive to invade Ukraine.

General Mark Milley, chair of the joint chiefs, and Avril Haines, director of national intelligence, had told lawmakers in the House of Representatives earlier that intelligence from Congressional aide reveals that Putin will launch the nuclear exercise in mid-February, earlier than its planned fall schedule. The exercise will involve intercontinental ballistic missiles from land, sea, and air and aim to send a powerful message to NATO, US and the West about Russia’s ‘strength’ of nuclear forces.

US Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirmed Washington’s shared interest in upholding the principles that have underpinned European peace and security since World War II. Harris underscored US’ commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also addressed the security situation in Europe and highlighted the importance of strong transatlantic relations. 

“The United States continues to demonstrate transatlantic solidarity in words and in deeds, by consulting with all Allies every step of the way, and with more troops, ships and planes in Europe. European Allies are also stepping up,” said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. 

Vice President Kamala Harris at the Munich Conference. Harris iterated that Washington is aware of ‘playbook of Russian aggression, as it continues to spread disinformation, lies, and propaganda but the US will expose the truth and will speak a ‘unified’ tone with NATO allies. US has put “concrete proposals” on the table for Russia via NATO, and engaged in “good faith.” But Russia, which continues to claims that it is ready for talks, it narrows the channels for diplomacy. Russia’s actions do not match with words, said Harris. US Vice President threatened “significant, far-reaching” economic consequences to Russia and export bans 

“Make no mistake that imposition of these coordinate efforts will lead to great damage for those that are accountable,” warned Harris. Washington has deployed additional troops across the NATO ally members who show heightened readiness, and “they will protect every inch of NATO territory.”  

US has provided significant support to Ukraine, economically, and will continue to do so in the face of Russian aggression. 

Russia has been building up its military forces in and around Ukraine, including Belarus, warned the US defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a press conference in Lithuania. He then stated that he wants “Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia, and Mr. Putin, as well as Kremlin, to know that the US stands with its allies.” He reiterated Washington’s commitment to NATO’s Article 5, labelling it ‘iron clad’ adding that the US has sent additional forces to NATO members demonstrating combat readiness, should NATO activate its response forces. 

Austin reaffirms that the United States stands with Lithuania, working together to strengthen the Lithuania armed forces and continuing to stand shoulder to shoulder against threats and adversaries to advance shared interests and values. US Defense Secretary Austin will meet jointly with Minister Anušauskas, Kalle Laanet, Minister of Defense of Estonia, and Artis Pabriks, Minister of Defense of Latvia, and will visit with US Service members stationed in Lithuania.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin thanked Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, Ingrida Simonyte as he started a LIVE conference after dialogue with the Acting Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis on the Russia Ukraine situation. US Secretary of Defence Austin landed in Vilnius, Lithuania to discuss the protecting the sovereignity of Ukraine against Russia's aggression. 

As he accused Russia of deploying additional troops to the Ukrainian border following an announcement of a partial military drawdown, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Munich Security Conference said that Russia’s leader Putin is "a little bit surprised" by NATO solidarity. Blinken underlined the strengthening unity between the US, NATO, and European partners to counter Russia’s military potential aggression. Russia had declined to participate in the conference where Blinken iterated that there was “no sign” of a Russian troop pullout.

"The single greatest source of strength that we have in dealing with this challenge is the solidarity. I think (Russian) President Putin has been a little bit surprised at that solidarity, at the way that NATO has come together, the European Union has come together," said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. 

UK government today attributed the distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks against the Ukrainian sectors and government websites to Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). "The decision to publicly attribute this incident underlines the fact that the UK and its allies will not tolerate malicious cyber activity," UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said in a press document. British government asserted that Russia's cyber activities against Kyiv shows a "continued disregard" for Ukraine's sovereignty and is yet "another example of Russia’s aggressive acts against Ukraine." 

"This disruptive behaviour [on part of Russia] is unacceptable - Russia must stop this activity and respect Ukrainian sovereignty. We are steadfast in our support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression," said the UK government. 

US President has renewed calls for Moscow to de-escalate the ‘war of choice’ as he labelled, warning that if Russia “pursues this plan, it will be responsible for a catastrophic and needles.” Biden affirmed support for Ukraine’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity” as he told reporters that the US has “a significant intelligence capability” when asked what leads Washington to believe that a war on the Russia-Ukraine border is in the making. Biden asserted that he is “convinced” that Russia’s Putin will launch an offensive on Ukraine, as he told reporters that the options of a diplomatic way forward to “prevent war” remains. 

US President Joe Biden in his White House address has told Russia that it is ‘not too late to de-escalate’ adding that Moscow has surrounded Kyiv from Belarus to Black Sea. “The fact remains: Russian troops currently have Ukraine surrounded from Belarus to the Black Sea in the south — and along Ukraine’s borders,” he asserted. The US president said that Washington has ‘every reason to believe’ that Russian armed forces are planning to attack Ukraine in the coming days. 

US president Joe Biden has warned Russia against making a “war of choice” as he said at a conference that he is “convinced” that Russia’s Vladimir Putin has made the decision to invade Ukraine. Threatening ‘catastrophic consequences’ of an armed conflict, Biden said that “until the point that a war breaks out” the door for diplomacy is still open.

Biden’s remarks came as Ukraine’s top security official Oleksiy Danilov accused Russia of provocations in the conflict-hit eastern Ukraine, and slammed Russia-backed separatists of launching a conflict with Ukrainian soldiers, as he reminded that there are “peaceful ways” of defusing this crisis. Moscow-backed separatist leaders accused Ukrainian Army of muscle-flexing as they said that they have begun evacuating the civilians in the contentious Donbas region to Russia. 

Russia’s demands not only involve Kyiv but now NATO— that we must “remove troops from over half of the member states” as the Russian leader Vladimir Putin threatens ‘dangerous military consequences’. “This is Russia’s ‘new normal’ that risks European security,” warned NATO chief Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. He asseretd, “it’s not for me to decide,” referring to the Ukraine’s NATO membership, adding that it wasn’t NATO that coerced the member states to join the Alliance. 

NATO will limit the access of Russia to the financial markets and will dismantle its economy should Russia launch an armed invasion of Ukraine, across sectors dominated by the EU, warns European Commission President Ursula von der Lein. EU officials urged Russia to pursue dialogue with NATO and provide assurance to Allies. 

NATO on Saturday demanded balanced, and reciprocal arms control as NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said “we will not unilaterally” give up on the munitions [as demanded by Russia] while some nations like Moscow, China, and Iran continue to enhance their arms stockpile. NATO chiefs remarks come as Russian president Vladimir Putin earlier said at the conference that the NATO alliance, US and the West has not been 'heeding' Russia's demands. 

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Lein on Saturday said that the EU should be able to “replace” Russian gas with LNG from different sources, currently from the United States, to keep the European LNG market running. Her remarks came at the Munich security conference where she outlined alternatives to LNG-importing country Russia in Europe. The LNG imports across Europe have witnessed a resurgence amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Europe’s need to import gas is driven by the continued and rapid decline in European domestic production. 

It is for individual countries to “decide” whether they seek membership with NATO alliance and the alliance “respects” those choices, says NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, reminding Alliance’s Open Door policy mentioned on Article 10 of the Alliance's finding document of North Atlantic Treaty (1949). NATO’s door remains open to any European country in a position to undertake the commitments and obligations of membership, and contribute to Euro-Atlantic security, he reminded.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is LIVE delivering remarks on the Transatlantic and European Security, Russia’s continued military build-up in and around Ukraine, and continued efforts to pursue diplomacy by NATO, US and allies. 

The situation in eastern Ukraine is 'completely controlled' by the Ukrainian defense forces, RIA has reported on Saturday, Feb. 19, citing a statement on the official website of the President of Ukraine.

Russian-backed separatist leaders in Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine have ordered a ‘full military mobilization’ as bilateral tensions and the prospect of a conflict escalated on Saturday. Republic Media Network has learned that the so-called abrupt move of troop mobilization in the two breakaway territories came after the women and children, and later the civilians were evacuated en masse to southeast Russia from the volatile and contentious Donbas region amid reports of mortar shelling. 

“A mass, centralized evacuation of the population to the Russian Federation has been organized. Women, children and the elderly are to be evacuated first,” Denis Pushilin, the head of the breakaway Donetsk region announced in a video broadcast.

“By an agreement with the Russian Federation, Donetsk residents may be evacuated to the Rostov region,” he added, as the immediate transition was arranged at checkpoints. 

The Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels have increased offensive in the past hours, which the West is now labelling as Russian pretext to invade Ukrainian territory. Ukraine also reported cyber-attacks known as denial of service (DDoS) on dozens of government websites which Ukraine has alleged was led by Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). 

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday warned that it would be catastrophic if the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalated into a war, while underlining that there was no alternative to diplomacy.

On Friday, Russia announced nuclear drills, even as leaders of nations from the West looked for ways to ease the tensions.

According to US estimates, Russia has amassed between 169,000 and 190,000 personnel in and near Ukraine, up from about 100,000 on January 30.

With a concentration of Russian troops around Ukraine, I am deeply concerned about heightened tensions and increased speculation about a military conflict in Europe. I still think it will not happen. But if it did, it would be catastrophic, Guterres said in his remarks to the opening segment of the Munich Security Conference Friday, an event that was conspicuous by the absence of leaders from Moscow.

The UN chief underlined that there is no alternative to diplomacy and all issues, "including the most intractable, must be addressed through diplomatic frameworks.

It's high time to seriously de-escalate, he said.

Urging "all parties to be extremely careful with their rhetoric, Guterres cautioned that public statements should aim to reduce tensions, not inflame them.

US Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday heralded NATO unity during the escalating crisis and warned Russia that the US and Western allies stood ready to respond with tough sanctions if Russian President Vladimir Putin moves forward with an invasion of Ukraine.

Denish Pushilin, the head of the separatist government in the Donetsk region in Ukraine has announced on Friday the evacuation of civilians to Russia amid soaring tensions.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, stopping over in New York on  Thursday before heading to the Munich Conference, outlined at a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine.

Blinken told the Council that over the past months, without provocation or justification, Russia has amassed more than 150,000 troops around Ukraine's borders.

Russia says it's drawing down those forces. We do not see that happening on the ground. Our information indicates clearly that these forces including ground troops, aircraft, ships are preparing to launch an attack against Ukraine in the coming days, he said.

Blinken said while we don't know precisely how things will play out, he warned that Russia plans to manufacture a pretext for its attack, that could include a fabricated so-called terrorist bombing inside Russia or a fake, even a real, attack using chemical weapons.

Russia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Vershinin, responding to Blinken's provocations as alleged pretexts for attacking Ukraine, said "such baseless insinuations cause "our deepest regret. 

Besides, as I said, they are dangerous because they add tension to the already tense atmosphere. But those are words.

Vershinin said the Western states should resist the temptation of turning the UNSC meeting into a platform for baseless and aggressive rhetoric to feed the TV cameras, and that they will abstain from making unsubstantiated allegations that Russia is allegedly going to attack Ukraine.

The alleged invasion date that you announced has already passed, so perhaps you'd better stop putting yourselves in an awkward situation, he said.

Guterres cautioned that miscommunication or miscalculation can make a minor incident between powers escalate out of control, causing incalculable harm.

He added that the United Nations system remains fully operational in Ukraine, including its humanitarian work in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Ukrainian Ambassador to United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya on Thursday warned Russia of a decisive consolidated response by the international community over its military build-up in the Donbas region.

Speaking at United Nations Security Council meeting on Ukraine, Kyslytsya said, "Russia has a choice to embark on the path of de-escalation and diplomatic dialogue or experience a decisive consolidated response by the international community."

Russia started shelling Stanytsia Luhanska in Ukrainian government-controlled territory in Donbas.

"Ukraine wants peace, security, and stability not only for itself but also for entire Europe. At the same time, I reiterate that in the event of Russia opting for escalation, Ukraine will defend itself," said Kyslytsya.

The Ukrainian Ambassador to the UN said that it remains up to Russia to implement all the resolutions in the Minsk agreements.
 

The Netherlands plans to supply Ukraine with weapons, radars and helmets, the Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) reported on Friday.

According to NOS, the Dutch authorities decided to supply Ukraine with sniper rifles, combat helmets, bulletproof vests, radars and mine detectors. Amsterdam responded to Kiev's request for military assistance in this way, NOS reported.

The Netherlands is ready to train Ukrainian troops on how to use Dutch equipment but outside Ukraine, NOS continued. 

Separatists in eastern Ukraine announced Friday they are evacuating civilians to Russia, as spiking tensions in the region aggravated Western fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and a new war in Europe, Associated Press reported.

It was the latest in a cascade of developments this week that have brought East-West relations to their lowest point in decades. 

US and European officials, focused on an estimated 150,000 Russian troops posted around Ukraine's borders, fear the long-simmering separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine could provide the spark for a broader attack.

The rupee spurted by 40 paise, its biggest single-day gain in over three months, to settle at a more than two-week high of 74.66 against the US dollar on Friday on hopes of a diplomatic solution to the East-West standoff over Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, are scheduled to meet soon at a summit in Moscow. As per the media reports, the two leaders will discuss what will happen to the 30,000 Russian troops who are currently in Belarus. Notably, the troops are conducting Allied Resolve joint exercises which are due to conclude on February 19.

"We will take all appropriate decisions tomorrow," Lukashenko told the reporters on Thursday. Notably, the Belarusian leader arrived in Russia and will hold a meeting with Putin.

Vice President Kamala Harris praised NATO unity and warned Russia that if it goes ahead with its plan to invade Ukraine, the United States and its allies will respond with harsh sanctions. As the annual Munich Security Conference got underway, Harris met with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and commended the alliance for its work throughout the crisis. 

"We remain, of course, open to and desirous of diplomacy, as it relates to the dialogue and the discussions we have had with Russia, but we are also committed, if Russia takes aggressive action, to ensure there will be a severe consequence in terms of the sanctions we have discussed," Harris told Stoltenberg, the Associated Press (AP) reported. 

Tata Group-owned Air India announced on Friday that it will begin operating three flights between India and Ukraine, beginning February 22. The next two flights will be operating on February 24 and 26. "Air India will operate 3 flights between India-Ukraine (Boryspil International Airport) India on 22nd, 24th & 26th FEB 2022. Booking open through Air India Booking offices, Website, Call Centre and Authorised Travel Agents [sic]," Air India wrote on Twitter. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to oversee major nuclear drills on Saturday, February 19, as Western leaders meet to discuss preventing Russia from invading Ukraine. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin will personally supervise the nuclear forces' drill on Saturday, which will include the launch of various ballistic and cruise missiles.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told parliamentarians on Friday that the prospect of a "large-scale invasion of Ukraine" is relatively low. He further said that the rebels had increased their shelling in the hopes of sparking a retaliatory attack by government forces. "We are not confirming Russia's claims about the withdrawal of its forces. It not happening as of now. It's about the movement of forces and equipment. We are also seeing now 129,000 of Russian ground forces, together with aviation and navy its number reaches 149,000," Reznikov said in a statement. 

Former British Intelligence officer and MI6 chief Sir John Sawers stated that Ukraine's chances of joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) were never strong, and they have worsened as a result of the present security crisis between NATO and Russia. "Ukraine had no prospect of becoming a member of NATO. We would be incorporating into NATO a preexisting conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and NATO would never have done that," he told BBC. Sawers further proposed that Kyiv opt for a neutral status between Russia and NATO, similar to what Austria did after World War II. 

Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels have traded fresh accusations of shelling and other ceasefire violations along the border regions. As per Russia's Interfax news agency, shelling targeted the Petrivske village in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic on Friday morning. Besides, Luhansk, another self-proclaimed rebel republic, also reported several mortar attacks. However, the Ukrainian government retaliated, claiming that the rebels fired artillery or mortars at least four times on Friday. 

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday that it has begun withdrawing more tanks and other armoured equipment from regions near the Ukrainian border. "After the scheduled exercises, units of the Western Military District continue to return to their regular deployment points. "Another military vehicle convoy has started marching from the training area to the point of permanent deployment," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement, Sputnik reported. According to the ministry, the convoy consisted of roughly 30 large vehicles carrying personnel, special equipment, and military supplies.

UK Home Office minister Damian Hinds told Times Radio, 'Putin regime is a global leader in the deployment of disinformation'. Amid ongoing crisis, he said, "False flag is a form of disinformation. There are other forms of disinformation as well. The Putin regime is a global leader in the deployment of disinformation and wider information ops. We need to be steeled to that. We need to understand what might be coming, what might be portrayed as some sort of spurious justification for an attack, for an invasion, and not take things at all at face value."But, Minds did not know what kinds of disinformation strategies might be planned.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has claimed that Russian-backed separatists shelled a nursery school in Ukraine's Donbas region as a "false-flag operation" to destabilise the Ukrainian government. Multiple shelling incidents were reported across the frontline in eastern Ukraine on Thursday morning (February 17), according to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). At least three people were injured in the attack in Stanytsia Luhanska city, that ripped a hole through the wall of a nursery school. Meanwhile, Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of carrying out provocative shelling. 

"A kindergarten was bombarded in Ukraine as part of a false-flag operation intended to denigrate Ukrainians, designed to create a pretext, a spurious provocation for Russian action. We are quite concerned that we will see more of this in the coming days," the UK Prime Minister said while speaking on a visit to RAF Waddington, in Lincolnshire, The Guardian reported. Notably, a "false-flag" incident is one in which the source of the incident is disguised, usually to provoke retaliation. Prime Minister Johnson stated that he is set to visit Munich this weekend for the European Security Conference to discuss efforts to unify the West.

The LPR office in the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of the Ceasefire Regime (JCCC), said that the Ukrainian military fired mortar shells against the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) twice, news agency Sputnik reported on Friday. According to JPCC, the firing has been going on since Thursday midnight. 

"The Ukrainian forces have shelled LPR 29 times, including with the use of heavy weapons in the last 24 hours," Sputnik quoted the LPR mission to the JCCC as saying.

"The Ukrainian army used 122-millimetre artillery systems, large-calibre mortars and anti-tank guided missiles," added the LPR mission.

According to the Russian news agency, the situation in the Dobass region started deteriorating on Thursday after the Ukrainian military started motor shelling against the Lugansk People.

Russia’s defence ministry has also claimed that it has withdrawn multiple infantry units from Crimea. The Interfax news agency cited a statement from Russia’s defence ministry, "Transportation of tanks and armoured tracked vehicles is carried out by rail over a distance of about one thousand kilometres."

Fuelling the Russia Ukraine crisis and escalating tensions in the face-off, on Thursday rounds of artillery shelling were heard by residents of Donetsk and Elenovka of eastern Ukraine, typically controlled by Vladimir Putin-backed Ukrainian rebels. While the Ukrainian military said that rebels shelled at the village of Stanytsa Luhansk, two civilians confirmed to have received "shell shock". Patrick Lancaster, in Donetsk, has been reporting for Republic Media Network and gave an insight into the ground reality of the areas in dispute. 

Stating that Ukraine is an active war zone at present, Lancaster reported from the Ukraine war frontline stating, "This (Thursday) morning, fighting erupted throughout Ukraine's front line." Bringing to light, the grave reality of Ukraine and the fear amongst its residents, Lancaster shared that hostilities have increased at the contact line already.

Read more here

Ukraine’s commander of the Joint Forces, lieutenant general Alexander Pavlyuk has released a statement claiming that Russian-backed troops have increased provocative actions just before the Munich conference, stated The Guardian. Ukrainian defence ministry's statement on Pavlyuk's address to reporters said, "The Russian Federation is trying to hide another crime against the defenders of Ukraine and the civilian population behind an information campaign ... Russia is spreading [fake news] about the alleged shelling of the kindergarten by the United Forces."

Further, while referring to “multiple shelling incidents” reported by Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), he said, "All this was done to provoke the Armed Forces to retaliate and accuse them of genocide. Instead, our Armed Forces abide by the Minsk agreements, and respond only after all means of ceasefire through the OSCE and the SCCC have been exhausted, when the lives of servicemen are threatened".

Global leaders including US secretary of state Antony Blinken, US vice-president Kamala Harris, German chancellor Olaf Scholz, the UK foreign secretary Liz Truss and Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, are travelling to Germany to discuss the Ukraine crisis. Additionally, UN chief Antonio Guterres, EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen and Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg will also be present at the meeting in person. The four-day meet of Group of Seven (G7) Foreign Ministers is set to take place amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine standoff.

Ahead of the Munich security conference, Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock criticised Russia for "cold war demands" and for declining to attend the meeting. In a statement, she said, "With an unprecedented deployment of troops on the border with Ukraine and cold war demands, Russia is challenging fundamental principles of the European peace order."

"I am travelling to Munich today to discuss how we can still counter the logic of threats of violence and military escalation with the logic of dialogue ... It is a loss that Russia is not taking advantage of this opportunity," Baerbock added.

Hours after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered remarks at UNSC, US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told CNN that Russia's "intentions are very clear" on Ukraine. The envoy said. "You know that we had a Security Council meeting today and Secretary Blinken openly asked our Russian counterpart, 'Tell us here, the Security Council, you do not intend to invade,' and they did not do that. So their intentions are very clear."

She added, "When they do it, will be their decision. But we need to be ready when it happens."

According to the Interfax agency, Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine have accused Kyiv government forces of shelling a village with artillery on Friday. It is to note that similar reports had emerged on Thursday. But, the West dismissed the claims as 'false flag' operations which Russia could use to justify an invasion into Ukraine.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said that the Russian government is trying to "fabricate pretexts" to invade Ukraine using alleged reports of abnormal activity by Ukraine troops in Donbas. Taking to her official Twitter handle, she called these attempts "straight out of the Kremlin playbook." Truss asserted that Russia will continue their efforts in calling out Russia's disinformation campaign. 

United Nations on Thursday called on all parties involved in the crisis to implement "maximum restraint." Addressing the UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Ukraine, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, highlighted the importance of upholding the ceasefire under the 2015 Minsk Agreement, calling the issues underlying the confrontation "complex and long-standing." DiCarlo also stressed that the issues "must be solved through diplomacy."

“Whatever one believes about the prospect of such a confrontation, the reality is that the current situation is extremely dangerous,” said Rosemary A. DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, acknowledging reports of fresh ceasefire violations across the contact line just hours earlier, which if verified, “must not be allowed to escalate," UN said in a readout from the UNSC briefing.

"She called on all sides to exercise maximum restraint," the readout added.

According to The Guardian, a White House official has confirmed that US President Joe Biden will be speaking to NATO allies on Friday to discuss the Ukraine-Russia crisis. In a statement, the official said, "The President will speak with Transatlantic leaders on a phone call tomorrow afternoon about Russia’s buildup of military troops on the border of Ukraine and our continued efforts to pursue deterrence and diplomacy".

Australian defence minister Peter Dutton on Friday said that Russia is just on the brink of an "all-out conflict" with Ukraine as tensions continue to escalate. Dutton told Australian broadcaster,  the Nine Network, "It’s tragic and we’ll see terrible scenes unfolding. You would expect that President Putin, who obviously can’t be taken at his word, is manufacturing some sort of trigger, or is in the process of executing the final stages of his plan to go into Ukraine.”

"That really is going to result in the loss of innocent life. We’ve seen it before in eastern Europe, we don’t want it repeated but we live in a very uncertain world. This is an issue Nato and Europe need to deal with and those European leaders really need to step up and put the pressure, even more pressure, on Russia to stop them," he also said.

Cementing America's support to Ukraine amid tensions with Russia, US Senate on Thursday approved a resolution that puts US legislative body on record that the country is backing Ukraine. The rare bipartisan vote in the chamber also condemned Russian military aggression. It is to note that the vote came shortly after US President Joe Biden said US has "every indication" of a potential Russian attack on Ukraine within days.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov next week "provided there is no further Russian invasion of Ukraine," US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Friday. On upcoming Blinken-Lavrov meet, Price said, "The Russians have responded with proposed dates for late next week, which we are accepting, provided there is no further Russian invasion of Ukraine. If they do invade in the coming days, it will make clear they were never serious about diplomacy."

US State Department reiterated its warnings for Americans main ongoing tensions in eastern Europe and stressed, 'Ukraine is Level 4'. This means, "Do Not Travel due to the increased threat of Russian military action. US citizens in Ukraine should depart immediately via commercial or private means."

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss expressed concern over the reports of escalated Russian aggression with more than 7000 troops near the Ukrainian border. Truss called on Russia to pull back its troops and insisted that there is "still time for diplomacy and de-escalation." She stated that reports of abnormal Ukrainian military activity in Donbas "are a blatant attempt by the Russian government to fabricate pretexts for invasion."

Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukrainian Ambassador to UN at UNSC meeting said that their country wants peace, security and stability. He asserted that if Russia chooses escalation, they will defend their country. Kyslytsya highlighted that Russia has an option to pursue de-escalation and dialogue or they would have to face a "decisive consolidated response by the international community."

The United Kingdom Prime Minister has warned that the situation in Ukraine continues to remain "very grim". He informed that this week, he will be travelling to Munich Security Conference to hold discussions with their partners. He underscored that the "West is united" and added that "de-escalation and dialogue is the only way forward."

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence has informed that as per their intelligence update, Russia could invade Ukraine "without further warning." The Ministry of Defence in the tweet also included a map that showed President Putin's possible axis of invasion. Furthermore, the UK Ministry of Defence also insisted that Putin can avoid conflict and preserve peace. In another tweet, the UK Defence Ministry insisted that they have not witnessed any evidence that show that Russian forces are withdrawing from Ukraine border. 

The US Embassy in Kyiv has said that Russia's shelling of Stanytsia Luhanska in Ukrainian government-controlled territory in Donbas has hit a kindergarten and "injured two teachers, and knocked out power in the village." Furthermore, the US Embassy in Kyiv alleged that the attack shows Russia's violation of the Minsk agreements. 

"The only goal of the West is to organise a war. If this is not the case, then the puppet govt of Ukraine would have been compelled to implement the Minsk agreement a long time ago. Since this is not taking place, we can state that the West wants a war with Russia," Russia said at the UNSC. 

"Any steps that increase tension may best be avoided by all sides in the larger interest of securing international peace and security. Quiet and constructive diplomacy is the need of the hour," India's Permanent Representative to United Nations TS Tirumurti said at UNSC meeting on Ukraine. 

TS Tirumurti added, "India's interest is in finding a solution that can provide for immediate de-escalation of tensions taking into account legitimate security interests of all countries to secure long-term peace, stability in the region and beyond."

"The Russian government can announce today with no qualification, equivocation, or deflection that Russia will not invade Ukraine. State it clearly, state it plainly to the world and then demonstrate it by sending your troops, tanks, your planes back to their barracks and hangars and sending your diplomats to the negotiating table," Antony Blinken said at the UNSC. 

"This is the exact kind of crisis which the US and the security council is created to prevent. Russia says it is taking its troops back... we don't see it happening on ground," Blinken at the UNSC.

"This crisis directly affects every member of this Council and all countries of the world. The most immediate threat to peace and security is Russia's looming aggression against Ukraine. Russia plans to manufacture a pretext for its attack. This could be a violent event that Russia will blame on Ukraine or an outrageous accusation against the Ukraine govt," Blinken alleges at the UNSC.

Blinken arrives in New York to address UN Security Council, says, "I just arrived in New York City. I will address the UN Security Council regarding Russia's threat to peace & security. We seek to resolve this crisis diplomatically but are prepared to impose severe measures should Russia further invade Ukraine."

European Union leader held a short summit meeting Thursday to assess the chances of diplomacy to unlock the standoff over Ukraine and discuss sanctions in case Russia invades its neighbour. The hastily called summit preceded a two-day EU-Africa meeting which brought the 27 EU leaders to Brussels. The meeting was not expected to go into deep detail of what sanctions should be used and how those measures would hit the economies of the member states, officials said.

“Diplomacy has not yet spoken its last word. That is good and we have still hope that peace will prevail," said EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. The EU has joined the United Kingdom and the United States in insisting that Russia would be hit with massive sanctions if it invades Ukraine.

Before heading into the summit, von der Leyen joined calls for Russia to physically provide proof its troops are moving away from confrontation near the Ukraine border. - AP

Russia on Thursday expelled US diplomat Bartle Gorman, the second-highest official at the US embassy in Moscow, from the country as a conflict between the West, Russia and the NATO alliance worsened this week. Moscow instructed Gorman to “immediately leave the country,” although the former did not cite clear reasons for the expulsion. Responding to Russia’s abrupt move, the US State Department said in a statement that Russian officials’ move was  “unprovoked.” Washington labelled Russia’s actions as “escalatory.” 

"We call on Russia to end its baseless expulsions of US diplomats and staff and to work productively to rebuild our missions," the State Department spokesperson said. "Now more than ever, it is critical that our countries have the necessary diplomatic personnel in place to facilitate communication between our governments. "

US President Joe Biden on Thursday has said that "there is every indication" that Russia is "prepared" to invade Ukraine, while speaking with reporters on Feb. 17 at the White House. Washington, said Biden, has no “reason to believe” that Moscow is “engaged in a false flag operation to have an excuse to go in”. He then insisted that there are no signs of a Russian troop pullback along its border with Ukraine, adding that a threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine is "very high”. Biden has also categorically stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin will go through with an invasion of Ukraine “within days.” 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stated that Moscow’s response to the United States on the security proposals “would be made public”. Russia has conveyed a response to the US proposals to the US Ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan, a State Department official has confirmed to CBS. 

The Russian Foreign Ministry had earlier released its response to Washington’s written proposals on the security guarantees wherein it outlined the “unacceptability of demands” to withdraw Russian troops from its own territory. 

Russia is concerned over “the growing military activity of the United States and NATO directly near Russian borders, while our ‘red lines’ and core security interests, as well as Russia’s sovereign right to protect them, are still being ignored,” the response from Russia’s foreign ministry obtained by Sputnik, to the US read. 

"Ultimatum-like demands to withdraw troops from certain areas on the Russian territories accompanied by threats of tougher sanctions are unacceptable and undermine the prospects for reaching real agreements”, Russia noted in the document. It added that Russia “does not plan any “invasion” of Ukraine, which is why “statements about Moscow’s responsibility for the escalation cannot be regarded otherwise than as an attempt to exert pressure and devalue Russia's proposals on security guarantees”.

UK's Defense Secretary Ben Wallace arrived in Brussels to discuss Ukraine’s security situation with the NATO Allies. UK has announced that it is doubling its troop's presence in Estonia and sending additional weaponry, and equipment, including tanks and armoured fighting vehicles to bolster NATO. “The troops and equipment will begin to move to Estonia today,” said the UK’s defense minister Ben Wallace. 

UK’s defense chief informed in Brussels that the Royal Welsh battlegroup of the UK, which includes armoured vehicles and personnel, will leave Sennelager in Germany and bases in the UK, and will arrive in Estonia in weeks ahead. HMS Trent – a UK Warship – has already begun conducting patrols in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea alongside NATO Allies from Canada, Italy, Spain and Turkey, according to UK’s Defense Ministry. Warship HMS Diamond said Wallace is readying to sail towards Eastern Mediterranean and will join up with NATO allies.

US defense secretary Lloyd Austin has said at a press conference that there should be “no reason” for Russia to invade Ukraine. Austin stressed that Ukraine has not threatened any country, but its Russian neighbours continue threatening the sovereignty of Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to justify his significant assembly of over 130,000 troops, he stressed.

“Of course, one thing that Mr. Putin wants to do is continue the path of dialogue, and the US, NATO, and the Western allies welcome that,” said Austin. There is still time and space for diplomacy to work,” said Austin. US defense secretary said that a “peaceful outcome that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is the best outcome.” 

“If Mr. Putin is serious about achieving the [diplomatic] outcome, he will find no better than the US and the NATO alliance as an interlocutor,” US defense secretary has said. “I have never seen NATO alliance more robust, more united, and more resolute than today.” While Putin says that he does not want to see strong NATO, “he is giving just exactly that.” 

Russian Army has started the construction of a tactical bridge and new road across a key Pripyat River in southern Belarus, less than four miles from the Ukrainian border. The construction comes as Russian troops have encircled Kyiv from three sides amid the recent ongoing buildup of Russian military troops. satellite images, from Maxar and Planet Labs, show the appearance of the pontoon bridge being constructed by the Russian troops.  

US military officials are closely observing and tracking the construction which appears to be a part of the military infrastructure Russia is installing as a threat of a potential invasion looms, sources tell CNN.  Russia has been constructing  “bridges, field hospitals, all kinds of support infrastructure, which is why we aren’t really taking seriously their claims of de-escalation,” a military official said. 

Asserting that Russia is using coercion on NATO,  NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said after the allied ministers meeting that Moscow has demonstrated will to use force, to try to coerce other countries, and to try to change some fundamental principles that are important for EU and allies’ shared security. He added that NATO wants “longer term adjustments” for securing its posture in the East. NATO chief indicated that the alliance will not adhere to Russia’s demands. 

“I will not preempt any final decision. We have asked our military commanders to provide advice and provide more details on the scale and the scope, including on potential new battlegroups in the East, in the southeast, in Romania, in the Black Sea region,” asserted NATO chief. He informed that NATO has in fact deployed more troops in the eastern part of the Alliance. 

“More troops, more ships, more planes, have been deployed under existing authorities and structures, under SACEUR,” said NATO chief. And that he stated is to make sure that “we are able to monitor, to follow what Russia is doing and to also reassure Allies in the eastern part of the Alliance.” Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) is the commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Allied Command Operations (ACO) is based at SHAPE in Casteau, Belgium.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at a press conference after the defense ministerial meeting has accused Russia of “intimidating other countries in Europe,” by way of coercing NATO to accept the Russian demands. “The new normal is that Russia has demonstrated it really is willing to contest some of the fundamental principles for our security, the right for every nation to choose its own path,” said NATO’s Jens Stoltenberg during the question-answer session. Outlining the “right” for NATO Allies to defend and protect each other, Stoltenberg said that Russia is suggesting a legally binding treaty violating NATO’s principles. 

“And they [Russia] have used force, the biggest concentration of combat force since the end of the Cold War, to underpin and intimidate other countries in Europe, to, in a way respect or to accept the Russian demands,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. 

“So this is a normal, a new normal which is violating core principles which have been important for the security and the stability of Europe for decades,” he added. 

After meeting with allied defense ministers and NATO leaders to discuss Russia’s military buildup in and around Ukraine, on Thursday and Friday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet with Andrzej Duda, President of the Republic of Poland, and Minister of National Defence of Poland Mariusz Błaszczak. The ministers will enhance bilateral cooperation in security and deepen the Polish-American partnership to address the current Russia Ukraine crisis. Austin will then meet with Polish troops at Powidz Air Base, tour the facilities and observe US troops' rotational presence there.

Austin will also hold dialogue with Lithuania’s Gitanas Nausėda, the President of Lithuania, and Ingrida Simonyte, Prime Minister of Lithuania, and Minister Arvydas Anušauskas, Minister for National Defence of Lithuania. Austin will reaffirm that the United States stands with Lithuania armed forces, and convey the “shoulder to shoulder” support against threats and adversaries. He will advance shared interests and values with the NATO countries. 

At the first day of the defense ministerial meeting of NATO, to address Russia’s significant military build-up in and around Ukraine, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg met with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The two highlighted Washington’s essential contributions to NATO's collective defense and deterrence against Russia. “These contributions, not only in words but also in deeds, are of great importance and very much welcomed", said the Secretary-General.

During the Wednesday and Thursday gathering of the NATO defense chiefs, Austin and his counterparts held discussions about deterring Russia from invading Ukraine and ways to shore up defenses on Europe’s eastern flank. “This really is a decisive moment for NATO, the likes of which we have not really seen potentially since NATO was established in 1949,” Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies told VOA. “This is where American leadership in NATO matters,” he said.

Austin noted Washington’s role in restoring the international rules-based order. NATO defense chiefs discussed Russia’s “egregious attempts to undermine the rule of law” and ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. 

[Credit: NATO]

Austin is expected to meet with Poland’s President Andrzej Duda on Friday, and will then visit nearly 5,000 additional troops ordered by US president Joe Biden. US will deploy 9,000 more troops in Poland. Austin will then head to Lithuania, and meet with President Gitanas Nauseda and the defense ministers of Estonia and Latvia.

NATO Defence Ministers met in Brussels to address Russia’s continued military build-up in and around Ukraine on the first day of NATO Defence Ministers’ meetings. NATO defense ministers asserted that they will not compromise on core principles, “the right of each nation to choose its own path and our ability to protect and defend all allies.” NATO has sent concrete written proposals to Russia and demanded a proposal response on ‘transparency, risk reduction and arms control.’

Secretary-General of NATO said, “Ministers welcomed the progress made on burden-sharing, with the seventh consecutive year of increased defense spending by European Allies and Canada.”

“NATO remains prepared for dialogue,” the Secretary-General said. “NATO has sent concrete written proposals to Russia, on transparency, risk reduction and arms control,”  informed. 

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that defense ministers held a substantive discussion on the security crisis and welcomed the diplomatic efforts by the allies. “These are signs from Moscow that diplomacy could continue,” he said, adding that there are no significant signs of de-escalation on the ground. 

“Russia maintains a massive invasion force ready to attack,” warned the NATO chief on the first day of the Defence Ministers meeting. He added that NATO is seeing biggest concentration of Russian forces in Europe since the Cold War. “It is not too late for Russia to step back from the brink of conflict and choose the path of peace,” he said. 

Ukraine has submitted an initiative to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to discuss the Russian State Duma’s appeal for Putin to recognise the Donetsk people’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) on 17 February, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba on Wednesday adding that the resolution “undermines Minsk agreements and the peace process.” Kuleba’s remarks came after Russian federal lawmakers on Tuesday approved a draft resolution that calls on Russian President Vladimir Putin to recognise the two self-declared republics in Donbas as independent states.

According to Sputnik, amid the ongoing Moscow-Kyiv standoff, the resolution received extremely wide support in the Russian State Duma. However, Putin appeared to be cool to the idea. The Russian President told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that he would do everything he could to solve the problems of the Donets River basin. Putin also noted that the potential for success in the Mink agreements was not yet exhausted.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to hold a telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday night, Nikkei reported citing the internal sources. PM Kishida is expected to make his country’s stance on the Russia Ukraine crisis vocal with President Putin. He is expected to push for a peaceful resolution to the conflict-like situation through the diplomatic path. 

"We are in this tense situation where anything can happen," Kishida said on Thursday in a meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Nikkei reported. "Japan must strive to ease tensions through diplomatic means,” he added. 

Japanese Prime Minister has said that Tokyo needs to consider that if Russia considers using force to change the status quo of Ukraine, “it will have an impact on Asia as well.” Kishida spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the phone earlier this week. The two counterparts agreed to push for diplomatic efforts to ease tensions on the border with Russia. 

The US will vote on the bipartisan resolution condemning Russia’s military aggression towards Ukraine today, Feb 17, on the Senate floor according to the Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, a member of both the Senate Armed Services and Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “You could see there being a consensus,” Kaine told CNN informing that it can be expected as soon as on Feb. 17.

The resolution involves a bipartisan sanctions bill against Russia, which has been a matter of “disagreement” among the Democrats and Republicans. A joint resolution led by Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Sen. Rob Portman will be passed to list crippling sanctions that will deter Russian leader President Vladimir Putin from the armed invasion of Kyiv. 

The bill will be a negotiating tactic with Russia “and is going to become very, very popular,” Sen. Jim Risch, ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, told CNN. Putin has continued to add to his "menu of options" militarily, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby had warned. 

Several US senators including Vice Harris are travelling to Germany for the Munich Security Conference to discuss such frameworks to deter Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and other heads of state and ministers will be present at the conference. 

UK’s foreign minister Liz Truss, who is slated to visit Ukraine this week to push for the diplomatic efforts to defuse the Ukraine Russia border tensions, is expected to “warn” the Russian President Vladimir Putin of the “international pariah status,” should he launch an offensive on Kyiv. UK’s Foreign Office on Thursday stated in a release that Truss is expected to visit Poland, Germany, and Kyiv to push for attempts to deter Russian “aggression” and prevent an armed offensive in the highly volatile region. 

UK’s foreign secretary is expected to say, “I urge Russia to take the path of diplomacy. We are ready to talk,” the British press reports suggest.

Truss will continue by saying, “But we are very clear – if they decide to continue down the path of aggression, there will be massive consequences bringing Russia severe economic costs and pariah status.” 

As Russia has amassed more than 130,000 troops near the Ukraine border, announcing a partial removal of the additional troops that it said will return to defense bases, US and NATO have remained skeptical of Russia’s intent.  Satellite images released by Maxar show how Russia has concentrated the forces in front combat positions on Ukraine’s frontier for months now. Russian troops are stationed around Ukraine to the north, on the western border with Russia, and on the Crimean Peninsula that Moscow annexed in 2014. Russian troops have surrounded Kyiv on three sides. 

[Credit: Maxar Technologies] 

Putin “continues to advance his readiness, should he choose to go down a military path here, and should he choose to invade again, he is doing all the things you would expect him to do to make sure he’s ready for that option, or options,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters. 

Putin, said Kirby, has added military capability along that border with Ukraine and in Belarus for months. Despite the drawdown, US believes that Russia has enough military readiness on the border.  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had earlier ordered members of the Florida National Guard that were stationed in Ukraine to reposition in the Europe.

As the situation still remains fragile in Eastern Europe, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Qatar's Foreign Minister as well as the Canadian Foreign Minister to discuss the threat of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine. Blinken stressed the importance of cooperating with allies and partners to impose swift and severe penalties on Moscow in response to any further military actions by Russia against Ukraine.

Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine are accusing Ukraine’s armed forces of ‘continued cease-fire violations’ and using the machine guns, and other heavy weaponry to launch attacks and “shake peace”, the RIA news agency reported on Thursday. The Russia-backed separatists derided Kyiv’s government of consistent breach of the 2015 Minsk Agreement, that was struck in the Belarusian capital in a bid to end the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. 

The Minsk II pact, though, could never be fully implemented. The areas in Ukraine's Donbas region have since been marred with clashes and armed offensives, and later were declared the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) and the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). The Minsk agreements were signed by the Russia and Ukraine leaders under the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) with due endorsement from UN Security Council resolution. 

US Persistent's anti-Russian frenzy in the country prevents authorities from objectively assessing the situation in Ukraine, according to the Russian embassy in Washington. The embassy has urged US to avoid stoking journalists' militarist wrath and instead focus on the very crucial issues of diplomatic settlement of the intra-Ukrainian conflict.

According to the Russian Embassy in the United States' Facebook post, Russia closely watched statements made by US Department of State spokesperson Ned Price in an interview with CNN on February 16. The embassy noted that the official was once again falsely accusing Russia of spreading disinformation about the situation in Ukraine.

"It is obvious that the flywheel of the anti-Russian hysteria spinned in the United States does not allow American colleagues to look at things objectively. Self-hypnosis about the inevitability of the Russian attack persists," Embassy said in the statement.

Authorities in Ukraine's largest second-city of Kharkiv are urging the residents to not panic or succumb to “Russian propaganda” or “psychological attacks”. According to Interfax news agency, officials in the city of Kharkiv, which is a technology hub 40 kilometres, from the Russian border, held an emergency meeting  on Thursday morning local time.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the UK and British Prime minister Boris Johnson for his unity and support. Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Zelensky said, "Let’s join forces to keep the peace!”

United States President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday called on Russia to take “real steps” towards de-escalation as both leaders warned that Moscow did not withdraw its troops significantly from the Ukrainian border. Even though Russia claimed that it has partially withdrawn its forces from the border near Ukraine, the statement issued by the German chancellery following a phone call between Scholz and Biden stated, “The risk of a further military aggression by Russia against Ukraine remains high, utmost caution is required”, stated DW.

The statement about US-Germany talks, added, “Russia must take real steps toward de-escalation” while reiterating a warning that any Russian military aggression into Ukraine would invite “extraordinarily serious consequences”. It is to note that Scholz’s call with Biden came after the German Chancellor leader met in person with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday in Moscow. Both Scholz and Biden welcomed Putin’s remarks on diplomacy to resolve the tensions and affirmed that they must be “pursued at full speed”, as per the report.
 

Russia could use “false” state media reports such as provocation and discovery of mass graves in Donbas “as an excuse” to launch an invasion into Ukraine, said the United States. During a press briefing on Wednesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that “We’re in the window where we believe an attack could come at any time, and that would be preceded by a fabricated pretext that the Russians use as an excuse to launch an invasion.”

When Psaki was questioned about Russia claiming it found mass raves in Donbas region, Psaki answered by noting how it has been known that Moscow can use “these tactics” to justify an attack on Ukraine. According to her, these measures by Russia could include “claims of provocation in Donbas, false state media reports — which I think you should all — everybody should keep their eyes open and aware of that potential — fake videos, false accusations about chemical weapons or accounts of attacks on Russian soldiers that have not actually occurred.”

“So there could be a range of false flags and pretexts that we would expect would precede an invasion.  And, again, we remain in that window,” Psaki added.
 

Even though Russia claimed to partially pull back troops, Estonia's foreign intelligence service director general Mikk Marran said that he is aware of around 10 battlegroups moving towards the border near Ukraine where according to him, already 170,000 troops are deployed. According to The Guardian, Marran added that the attack on Ukraine would include missile bombardment and the occupation of “key terrain". 

"If Russia is successful in Ukraine, it would encourage it to increase pressure on the Baltics in the coming years. The threat of war has become the main policy tool for Putin," Marran was quoted as saying.

UK PM Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Thursday discussed the “concerning situation” on Ukraine’s border. In a joint statement, following their virtual meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed the “unique” relationship between Australia and the UK, built on shared values and common interest, and sustained by the “deep bonds between our peoples”. They further reiterated their commitment to support a rules-based international order free coercion, where the sovereign rights of all nations are respected and disputes are settled peacefully and in accordance with international law. 

“The prime ministers discussed the concerning situation on Ukraine’s border. They emphasised their unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders,” the joint statement read. 

“They agreed the need for de-escalation and underscored that any further Russian incursion in Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake and have a stark humanitarian cost,” it added. 

Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro told reporters during a news conference, "We have reviewed the powerful military cooperation, and we have ratified the path of a powerful military cooperation between Russia and Venezuela for the defence of peace, of sovereignty, the defence of territorial integrity.

"We are going to increase all the preparation, training and cooperation plans with a military power in the world such as Russia,” he added, according to The Guardian.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday said that the security alliance is still deliberating whether to further boost military presence in Eastern Europe, but has not come up with the final decision yet. Speaking at a press conference after the first day of a meeting of NATO defence chiefs, Stoltenberg informed that NATO ministers have decided to develop options to further strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence, including to consider establishing new NATO battlegroups in central, eastern and southeastern Europe. 

“Because we have already implemented measures, we have already increased our presence, but that's more the immediate response to the current crisis. The other issue is whether we separate from that, we'll have some more longer-term adjustments. Well, no final decision has been made," Stoltenberg told a press conference, as quoted by Sputnik. 

Later this week, Britain's Foreign secretary Liz Truss will visit Ukraine and several European countries later this week, her office said on Thursday, according to The Guardian. Amid tensions in eastern Europe, Truss will be meeting with Ukrainian and Polish counterparts during visits to both nations. She will hold talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and even deliver a speech in Kyiv.

According to CNN, the United States Air Force F-35 fighter jets arrived at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany on Wednesday in an attempt to back the NATO allies. The jets which arrived in the European nation come from 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. This came after on Monday, eight F-15Es from the 336th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Caroline arrived in Lask, Poland. Six others KC-135 tankers from the 100th Aerial Refueling Wing at Mildenhall, England arrived at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, stated the media outlet.

The United States has warned that Russia has added as many as 7,000 troops at the border near Ukraine even though Kremlin had previously declared that it had pulled back troops. The West has estimated that Russia has amassed over 150,000 troops east, north and south of Ukraine. But on Tuesday, Putin indicated that he wished to take a diplomatic approach. Meanwhile, Biden also pledged that US would give diplomacy “every chance."

Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, a senior US official, who spoke to AP on the condition of anonymity,  said the West detected that Russia had increased its force near Ukraine by 7,000 troops. Some of these Russian forces arrived at the border on Wednesday. The official also noted that there had been a significant increase in the false claims by Moscow.

Despite Russia's announcement on February 15 that it was pulling back some of its troops, the NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that they have not witnessed "any de-escalation" on the ground. Ahead of the meetings of NATO Defence Ministers, Stoltenberg insisted that they were no signs yet of reduced Russian troops on the Ukrainian border and they will continue to monitor the situation. He further stated that Russia's willingness to pursue diplomacy gives ground for "cautious optimism." 

"So far we have not seen any de-escalation on the ground, not seen any signs of reduced Russian military presence on the borders of Ukraine. But we will continue to monitor and to follow closely what Russia is doing," Jens Stoltenberg said while speaking to reporters. 

"The signs coming from Moscow about willingness to continue to engage in diplomatic efforts. That gives some reason for cautious optimism. But we will of course, follow very closely what's happening on the ground and whether this is affected in some real de-escalation of the Russian military build-up in around Ukraine," he added. 

Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida spoke with his United Kingdom counterpart Boris Johnson over the phone call. During the call, they discussed the "deeply concerning" situation around the Ukrainian border, according to the statement released by the UK government. Both sides underscored that the international community needs to be united against the invasion of a country and asserted that they would not tolerate Russian aggression. 

In their 25-minutes talks over the phone, the two leaders expressed that their countries will work closely to continue diplomatic efforts for de-escalation, according to the statement released by Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs. Johnson and Kishida agreed that any unilateral change in the status quo by forces would not be accepted.

The White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has said that the window for a potential Russian attack on Ukraine remains open. She warned that Russia could use fabricated pretexts as an excuse to launch a military attack against Ukraine. While addressing a press briefing, Jen Psaki reiterated White House warnings of "false flag" events which are meant to create the pretext for an attack, including claims of mass graves in Donbass and insisted that "everyone should keep eyes open" for fake videos or false Russian media reports. 

"We’re in the window where we believe an attack could come at any time, and that would be preceded by a fabricated pretext that the Russians use as an excuse to launch an invasion," Jen Psaki said in the press briefing.

"So those could include, but not be limited to, the report you just referenced, claims of provocation in Donbas, false state media reports which I think you should all everybody should keep their eyes open and aware of that potential — fake videos, false accusations about chemical weapons or accounts of attacks on Russian soldiers that have not actually occurred," she added.

Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida spoke with his United Kingdom counterpart Boris Johnson over a phone call on February 16. During the call, they discussed the "deeply concerning" situation around the Ukrainian border. Both sides agreed that the international community needs to be united against the invasion of a country and asserted that they would not tolerate Russian aggression, according to the statement released by the UK government. The two leaders expressed that their countries will work closely to continue diplomatic efforts for de-escalation. Johnson and Kishida agreed that any unilateral change in the status quo by forces would not be accepted, according to the statement released by Japan's Foreign Ministry. Both sides agreed that an invasion will impact the foundations of the international order and result in severe consequences. 
 

Despite Russia's announcement on February 15 that it was pulling back some of its troops, the NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that they have not witnessed "any de-escalation" on the ground. Addressing a press briefing ahead of the meetings of NATO Defence Ministers, Stoltenberg insisted that they were no signs yet of reduced Russian troops on the Ukrainian border and added that they will continue to monitor the situation. He further stated that Russia's willingness to pursue diplomacy gives ground for "cautious optimism." The NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed their readiness to engage in good faith in dialogue with Russia to reach a political solution.

"So far we have not seen any de-escalation on the ground, not seen any signs of reduced Russian military presence on the borders of Ukraine. But we will continue to monitor and to follow closely what Russia is doing, The signs coming from Moscow about willingness to continue to engage in diplomatic efforts. That gives some reason for cautious optimism. But we will of course, follow very closely what's happening on the ground and whether this is affected in some real de-escalation of the Russian military build-up in around Ukraine," Jens Stoltenberg said in a press briefing. 

United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had a phone call to discuss the crisis on Ukraine's border. During the call, they agreed a Russian invasion of Ukraine would have "catastrophic and far-reaching" consequences, according to a readout from Downing Street. Johnson and Guterres "reaffirmed the importance of all parties working in good faith to implement the Minsk Agreements." Both sides agreed to work closely to pursue diplomatic resolution and avert "military escalation and humanitarian crisis." In their phone call, the two leaders reiterated the responsibility of states to follow the obligations of the United Nations Charter and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of UN members.

"The Prime Minister said there is currently little evidence of Russia disengaging, and they agreed any invasion of Ukraine would have catastrophic and far-reaching consequences," according to a readout from the Downing Street. 

"The Prime Minister and Secretary-General also reaffirmed the importance of all parties working in good faith to implement the Minsk Agreements. The UK will be represented by Europe Minister James Cleverly at a UN Security Council meeting tomorrow [Thursday] to discuss implementation of the Agreements," according to a readout from the Downing Street. 

The NATO Defence Ministers in the statement expressed grave concerns over the "very large scale, unprovoked and unjustified Russian military build-up" in and around Ukraine and Belarus. They have urged Russia in the "strongest possible terms" to pursue diplomacy and immediately pull back forces from Ukrainian border according to the international obligations. The NATO Defence ministers warned that any further military aggression by Russia against Ukraine will result in "massive consequences" and "carry a high price."

"We are gravely concerned by the very large scale, unprovoked and unjustified Russian military build-up in and around Ukraine and in Belarus. We urge Russia, in the strongest possible terms, to choose the path of diplomacy, and to immediately reverse its build-up and withdraw its forces from Ukraine in accordance with its international obligations and commitments," the NATO Defence Ministers said in a statement.

Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that his government has seen no evidence that Russia is withdrawing more soldiers. "We are yet to see Russian military withdrawal from Ukraine's borders," he told reporters on Wednesday. It comes after Russia said that it was withdrawing more troops from the Crimean peninsula. Russia announced earlier today that military drills in Crimea had ended and troops were returning to their bases.

As Russia's military buildup around Ukraine sparks one of Europe's worst security crises in decades, NATO member countries discussed new methods on Wednesday to reinforce the defences of nations on the organization's eastern border. Defence ministers, including US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, were to meet for two days at NATO headquarters in Brussels to consider how and when to send soldiers and equipment to countries closest to Russia and the Black Sea region in case Moscow decides to invade Ukraine. 

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticised NATO's inability to accurately analyse events after the alliance stated it had not seen proof of a Russian troop pullout. Following regular drills on the southern border near Ukraine, the military troops had begun returning to their permanent deployment bases, the Russian Defense Ministry stated. 

The spokesman's words follow comments by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who questioned Russian Defense Ministry assurances about a troop withdrawal from Russia's southern border. It remains to be seen whether there is a Russian withdrawal [...] What we see is that they have increased the number of troops, and more troops are on the way," Stoltenberg stated.

Following Russia's announcement that some of the troops would be withdrawn from the Ukrainian border, US President Joe Biden stated that the White House still anticipates Russia to take military action. He stated that it's good that the Russian Defence Ministry announced the withdrawal of troops from the Ukrainian border but they have not yet verified it and that their analyst indicates that the troops are still in a threatening position and that the invasion remains distinctively possible. 

The President gave a speech to the Americans stating that he would not "pretend this will be painless" and if Russia invades Ukraine, they would feel it at the gas station. He vowed that his administration would do everything possible to improve the situation.

Responding to the appeals of arrangement of flights from Ukraine, the Indian embassy in Kyiv urged students "to not resort to panic" and book the earliest available as well as convenient flights for India. It also added that more flights are being planned to meet the additional demand and details regarding the same will be shared soon. 

The United States has stated that China will take advantage of the crisis prevailing between Russia and Ukraine and do something “provocative” in Asia especially when Western governments are focused on defusing the tensions between Moscow and Kyiv. The head of US Pacific Air Forces, General Kenneth Wilsbach said that Beijing had aligned itself with Russia as China recently backed Moscow’s objection to Kyiv joining NATO. 

"When you look at what China has said … it makes you concerned about what China might consider doing in the future that might look very similar to what’s happening with Russia and Ukraine,” Kenneth Wilsbach said, according to South China Morning Post.

On Wednesday, Ukraine's Defense Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, claimed the latest threat assessments by troops did not find "anything unexpected" and were in line with earlier views. He further stated that the Ukrainian military is conducting a nationwide military drill, which will also be attended by Belarus' military attaché. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are interpreting the principle of indivisible security "quite freely and for their own interest." He made the statement after talks with visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday, February 15. 

Putin emphasised that this principle encompasses not only the right to choose methods for maintaining one's personal security and to join any military unions or alliances, but also the obligation not to enhance one's security at the expense of the security of others, Tass news agency reported. He pointed out that, while the alliance is free to invite other countries under Article 10 of the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty, it is not obligated to do so.

The Indian embassy in Kyiv issued an advisory on Tuesday, February 15, for Indians residing in Ukraine. "Embassy continues to monitor developments. We are aware that many Indian students are presently in Ukraine & their families are anxious about their wards, particularly about getting flights to India," ANI reported citing sources. The embassy further stated that discussions are underway with civil aviation authorities and various airlines on how to increase the number of flights between India and Ukraine. "Control Rooms in Embassy as well as in MEA are being set up to respond to queries of Indian nationals in Ukraine & their families in India," as per ANI. 

On Wednesday, the Russian Defence Ministry has announced the end to its military exercises in Crimea. Ukraine’s Interfax news agency reported that Russia has said that troops had already crossed the Crimean bridge. According to the statement, after completing exercises in the Crimean peninsula, the troops are marching to permanent locations by rail. Taking to Twitter, the Russian defence ministry posted a video saying, "Frames of the crossing of the Crimean bridge by a train with military equipment of units #ЮВО moving to the point of permanent deployment".

Amid ongoing crisis, Ukrainian defence Minister Dmytro Kuleba marked the national unity day. He said, "United, Ukrainians always prevail. Today, we celebrate unity of all Ukrainians at home and abroad. But also Ukraine’s unity with reliable partners proven by this security crisis created by Russia. Grateful to our true friends who stand by us not only in words, but also in deeds."

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Parliament also stated, "Unity Day is celebrated in #Ukraine today!  Unity is our powerful weapon. Now, more than ever, we must stand side by side and not allow the enemy to defeat the spirit and will of the independent nation."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a bill for raising the salaries of military servicemen. According to the Kyiv Post, Zelensky signed the decree on Monday and now the new monies would start to be paid from March 1. This means that the salary of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will increase by 30% and the salaries of the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service will surge by 20%. 

As per the media outlet, Servant of the People party leader David Arahamiya said that UAH 30 billion will be allocated for the boosted salaries. He informed that the money will be found by a redistribution of funds in the current government budget. Arahamiya explained that part of the money from the infrastructure, from the roads, is taken away, and part of it, the party submitted a bill from the Cabinet to increase the rent for gas. The Servant of the People leader stated that the increase would mean that the lowest military salary would be at least UHD 14 ($490). 

Russia has no plans to relocate its embassy in Ukraine from Kyiv, media agency Sputnik reported citing a source. "No, our foreign missions continue to work. There are no such plans," the source told Sputnik, in response to a query about if the Russian side plans to temporarily relocate the embassy to Kharkov or Odessa in the wake of the transfer of Western embassies from Ukraine's capital.

Kyiv and Western countries, particularly the United States, have recently expressed worry about Russia's apparent escalation in aggressive acts near Ukraine's borders. Washington, on the other hand, transferred part of its workers from the Ukrainian capital to Lviv. The Kremlin has often stated that Russia has the right to move soldiers within its national territory, while also pointing out that NATO's military action near Russia's borders has expanded dramatically, which Moscow views as a danger to national security.

Any attempts by Ukraine to discuss de-escalation with Russia or to create an environment conducive to talks face a strong headwind from the US and the UK, whose governments have continued to express their willingness to fight, a British foreign affairs analyst said. Speaking to Sputnik, Adriel Kasonta, a London-based foreign affairs analyst and former chairman of the International Affairs Committee at the Bow Group think tank, claimed that the “Ukrainian stance doesn’t matter”. 

Kasonta stated that the last few days have proved that neither the Biden administration nor the mainstream media in the West care about the Ukrainian perspective. He noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky contradicted US President Joe Biden’s claims about a potential Russian invasion in the coming days, saying that “one seemed to pay much attention to what he was saying”. 

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Norway has decided to deploy up to 60 troops for three months to the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence in Lithuania. The development has been confirmed by Norwegian Defence Minister Odd Roger Enoksen. The Norwegian security personnel will be sent quickly to Lithuania and they will remain in the country for three months, according to ANI. According to Odd Roger Enoksen statement, the deployment of Norwegian security personnel can be extended in Lithuania. 

United States Senators on Tuesday expressed a “message of solidarity” to the Ukrainian people while warning Russian President Vladimir Putin even though the chamber remained unsuccessful in drafting sanctions against Moscow. At least 12 senior Democratic and Republican lawmakers of the Senate said in a statement, “In this dark hour, we are sending a bipartisan message of solidarity and resolve to the people of Ukraine, and an equally clear warning to Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin”. In rare political unity, the text was signed by the chamber’s party leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell.

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that Washington is ready to respond decisively to a Russian attack on Ukraine, which is “still much a possibility”. In remarks at the White House, Biden acknowledged reports that Russia has ordered a partial withdrawal of its troops near Ukraine's borders, but he went on to stress that the US has “not yet verified” the Kremlin’s claims and that an invasion remains “distinctly possible”. The US President also stated that Washington is not seeking direct confrontation with Moscow, however, he added that if Russia targets Americans in Ukraine, then the US will “respond forcefully”. 

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Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro departed for Russia despite warnings from the US over the possibility of a Russian attack. Bolsonaro is scheduled to have at least two meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The visit of Bolsonaro was planned before the Ukraine crisis arose and the trip of Bolsonaro is focused on bilateral trade as Russia is a key source of fertilizers for South America's agriculture powerhouse, according to AP. 

The United States is looking forward to receiving a written response from Russia against the security demands forwarded to Washington and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) last year in December amid escalating tensions between Moscow and Kyiv along the eastern European borders, US State Secretary Antony Blinken told his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, during a phone call on Tuesday. Reiterating"unwavering support" for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Blinken also raised concerns over Russia's capacity to invade the ex-Soviet nation and emphasised the need to see verifiable, credible, meaningful de-escalation, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said, citing a readout of the phone call.

"The United States looks forward to receiving Russia’s written response to the U.S. and NATO papers shared with Moscow last month proposing concrete areas for discussion regarding European security in coordination with our Allies and partners,"  Ned Price said in a statement.

Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed the Ukraine situation during a telephone call on Tuesday. According to a Press release, the two leaders shared their concerns over Russia’s "aggressive and destabilising actions" in and around Ukraine. They stressed the importance of a diplomatic resolution to the current tensions and even noted their shared commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. 

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The Republican members of the United States Senate have proposed legislation that would impose penalties on Moscow and would assist Kyiv in the case of an attack on Ukraine, as per a copy of the legislation issued on Tuesday. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Republicans stated in a press release that the US Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), who is a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led a majority of his Republican colleagues in having to introduce the Never Yielding Europe's Territory (NYET) Act.  

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Shortly after the Russian defence ministry stated that it had pulled back some troops from the border near Ukraine, Biden on Tuesday said that Russian forces still remain in a "threatening position". While delivering remarks at the White House over the Russia-Ukraine crisis after Moscow said that it had started redeploying its troops, US President said, "That would be good, but we have not yet verified that".

"Indeed, our analysts indicate that they remain very much in a threatening position. And the fact remains, right now Russia has more than 150,000 troops encircling Ukraine in Belarus and along Ukraine’s border," he also said.

US State Secretary Antony Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov over the phone call. During the call, Blinken reiterated the US commitment to continue to pursue a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine - Russia crisis. He stated that the United States looked forward to receiving Russia’s written response to the US and NATO papers shared with Moscow, according to the readout of the call released by the State Department. While speaking to Lavrov, Blinken expressed concerns that Russia has the capacity to launch an attack on Ukraine and "emphasized the need to see verifiable, credible, meaningful de-escalation." Antony Blinken asserted that Russian military action against Ukraine would result in a "swift, severe, and united Transatlantic response."

US President Joe Biden said that the Russian Defence Minister said that some military units of Russia are returning from their positions near Ukraine. However, he added that the US has not yet verified the troops pull back. and insisted that the analysts have warned that there is presence of more than 150,000 troops encircling Ukraine and Belarus. He urged Americans to leave from Ukraine and also mentioned that they have "temporarily" shifted embassy from Kyiv to Lviv. 

"The Russian Defence Minister reported today that some military units are leaving their positions near Ukraine. That would be good, but we have not yet verified that. We have not verified the Russian military units are returning to their home bases, indeed, our analysts indicate that they remain very much in a threatening position and the fact remains right now Russia has more than 150,000 troops encircling Ukraine and Belarus and along Ukraine's border and invasion remains distinctly possible," Biden said in his remarks.

Biden assured the people of Russia that they are not targeting them and do not wish to destabilize their country. Furthermore, Biden said that the US and NATO do not have missiles in Ukraine and insisted that Kyiv is not threatening Moscow.

"The United States and NATO are not a threat to Russia. Ukraine is not threatening Russia. Neither the US nor NATO have missiles in Ukraine. We do not, do not have plans to put them there as well. We are not targeting the people of Russia. We do not seek to destabilize Russia. To the citizens of Russia - you are not our enemy. I do not believe you want a bloody, destructive war against Ukraine," Biden said in the remarks. 

US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron have agreed over the need to verify Russia's announcement that it has started the process to pull back the troops. During the call, Macron and Biden reviewed their recent conversations with their Russian President Putin and Ukrainian counterpart, according to the readout released by the White House. Both sides affirmed their support for a diplomatic path and even exchanged views on ongoing diplomatic efforts undertaken along with their allies in response to Russia’s military buildup near Ukraine’s borders, which includes the readiness to impose "severe consequences and to reinforce the defensive posture on NATO’s eastern flank."

In his remarks on the Russia - Ukraine crisis, US President Joe Biden has said that "US is prepared no matter what happens." Biden insisted that they will continue to engage with Russia in diplomacy and added that they are ready to react "decisively" to Russian attack on Ukraine, which is "still very much a possibility.''

"The United States is prepared, no matter what happens. We are ready with diplomacy, to engage in diplomacy with Russia and our allies and partners to improve stability and security in Europe as a whole. And we are ready to respond to decisively to Russian attack on Ukraine, which is still very much a possibility. All the events of the last few weeks and months, this has been our approach and remains our approach now," US President Joe Biden said in his remarks on Ukraine - Russia crisis. 

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke with French MFA Secretary General François Delattre, Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi, German MFA State Secretary Andreas Michaelis and UK Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa and North America James Cleverly. During the call, they discussed the ongoing diplomatic efforts to call on Russia to de-escalate the choose path of diplomacy, according to the readout of the call released by State Department. They further reaffirmed readiness to impose "swift, severe costs" on Russia, in case of any further military aggression against Ukraine. Sherman stressed that the United States continues to be "steadfast support" for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The websites of Ukrainian government agencies and major banks have been hit by cyberattacks on Tuesday. The development has been confirmed by Ukrainian authorities. Around 10 websites in Ukraine, including websites of Defense Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Culture Ministry and Ukraine’s two largest state banks stopped working due to DDOS attacks, according to The Associated Press. The customers of state-owned banks, Privatbank and Sberbank faced problems with online payments and apps of banks. The cyberattacks on Ukrainian websites comes amid the escalated tensions with Russia over military build-up near the Ukraine border. 

Amid fear that the tension between Russia and Ukraine could turn into a military conflict, anxious parents of Indian students in Ukraine are appealing to local elected representatives to push for the evacuation of these students. Parents of students, particularly those who have not yet received their temporary resident permit or are awaiting the renewal of permits, are waiting and watching the situation.

Ukrainian and Russian waters, including the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov on Tuesday, were added to the UK's list of 'high risk' areas, according to the British media reports. More developments are awaited on the same. 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who arrived in Moscow today to push for a diplomatic path forward and defuse the bilateral tensions between Kyiv and Moscow, has said that he has ensured that the gas transit for Berlin continues via Ukraine. German chancellor added that he “was intent on ensuring” that a confrontation did not break out with Ukraine, and even if “it did” the German leader assured that the Russian leader will not cut off energy supply project. 

“We are committed to ensuring gas transit in Europe works through Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Nord Stream 1 according to the agreements we have. And we also want to ensure peaceful development in Europe,” Scholz said at a joint news conference.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin said that Russia was told Ukraine ‘will not join NATO’ in the near future. But even then, said the Russian leader, “we did not think that was a good enough assurance.” Russia now wants to resolve this matter now. German chancellor Olaf Scholz who travelled to Moscow to defuse tensions between Russia and Ukraine meanwhile said in remarks that “Russia’s demands are worth discussing.” 

“It was right that NATO and the European Union responded to the letters from Russia, and while Russia does not agree with the response, it is a good sign that it says there are a few good points in it,” Scholz said at the press conference. 

“Likewise, NATO, the EU, and we do not agree with the demands of Russia, but we believe there are some points in there that are worth discussing."

Russian troops have commenced the military drills in the Gomel Region of Belarus shortly after Moscow announced that it has asked some of the troops to return to their defense base. Rare photos were leaked that showed the Russian OTR-21 Tochka-U missile system launching projectiles on the Belarusian side, near the border with Ukraine. 

As many as 30,000 Russian troops have been stationed to take part in the drills with the Belarusian Armed Forces. NATO is also planning to meet tomorrow, and on Thursday to deploy the multinational battlegroups in southeastern Europe to counter the Russian aggression, German broadcasters reported. 

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of ‘genocide’ in the eastern Donbas region. His remarks came after he met with the German chancellor Olaf Scholz in Moscow. Putin stated at a press conference that Russia intends to find a resolution to the conflict, as he pushed for the security guarantees from NATO. 

Earlier today, Russia's parliament submitted a document to ask President Putin to recognize the two Russian-backed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. The Russian parliament is pushing for independence, the speaker of the Duma lower house announced, according to Sputnik. 

Russian invasion of Ukraine is "highly likely” said the UK’s foreign secretary Liz Truss in a letter to MPs, according to British broadcaster Sky News. There’s a stalemate in talks on the conflict situation that could endure for an "extended period”, she further said in the letter to MPs. UK’s FM warned that an invasion is now very imminent, although, it can happen with “no or little warning.” 

"An invasion could be imminent, and we judge it to be highly likely," UK’s foreign secretary Liz Truss said in the letter to the British politicians. 

"We are still pursuing diplomacy and pushing Russia to step back from the brink. We are now at the point where any invasion would come with little or no warning. This would be a long protracted conflict and it would be hugely damaging to Russia and Ukraine,” a letter from the UK’s foreign minister Liz Truss read on Tuesday. 

Russian leader Vladimir Putin who took a press conference after talks with German counterpart Olaf Scholz used affirmative statement and a rather hardened stance on the Ukrainian issue. NATO is "at our door," the Russian leader said, asking the West to  "hear us". Putin then said, "of course, we don't want war in Europe" adding that this is why Russia is participating in the talking process that has been ongoing. However, he asserted that the end results of the negotiations should be an "agreement on equal security" as he reiterated that NATO must withdraw troops from Eastern regions immediately. 

"Unfortunately, there has been no meaningful constructive response to our proposals," Putin declared on Tuesday. 

 

German chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday said that it is "very good" that he spoke with his Russian counterpart. On the prospect of defusing tensions with Ukraine, he told the news conference: “We cannot emphasize enough how worried we are about 100,000 troops along the border.” 

Scholz added, that the troops stationed by Russia at the frontier with Kyiv are significantly the "most severe crisis we've had in Europe.” He then added, "We cannot see any reason why they should be there.”

While the German chancellor did not clearly state if Russian leader Putin has agreed to any declaration that averts the threat of Ukrainian invasion, he did say that “de-escalation is essential”. Sholz added, that the two sides have "not yet exhausted diplomatic solutions.” He also made comments on Russia’s announcement of partial troop removal from the border calling it a "good sign.” 

“We are prepared to talk about very concrete steps in order to ensure peace and security”, said German chancellor Scholz.

The Russian president has openly lashed out at Ukraine as he said at a press conference that he had “tried best” to secure the compromise deal with Kyiv by sending proposals to NATO. In a defiant tone on Tuesday, Russia’s authoritarian leader who has amassed 130,000 troops on the border, said that his demands “haven't been put into action". 

He accused Ukraine of "mass violations of human rights” adding that Ukraine’s acts “are being legitimized". In a positive tone to Germany, as Putin announced that Russia will not stop gas supply via Ukraine, he also thanked his German counterpart, Olaf Scholz, for meeting him in Moscow.

Germany and Russia are "very close to each other,” said Putin. 

Russian President Putin has stated that Moscow is ready to cooperate and work with the West on the security issues and de-escalate tensions over Ukraine. “We are ready to work further together. We are ready to go down the negotiations track,” Putin told a press conference after holding talks with the German chancellor with Scholz in Moscow. In a first, the Russian leader has outlined that the US and NATO have rejected the proposal terms that prohibit Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations from joining NATO. 

Putin demanded that NATO must roll back on the deployment of intermediate-range missiles in Europe, which threatens Russia’s regional security. His remarks came as Russia prepared to deploy the bombers and hypersonic missile-equipped fighter jets to its defense base in Syria, according to TASS. 

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has said at a presser after talks with German chancellor Olaf Scholz that Moscow “is ready” to speak with US and NATO on limits for missile deployments in the eastern EU and roll back alliance troops from Eastern Europe. Putin blamed the West for tensions, as he stressed that the US and the NATO alliance rejected Moscow’s demands of the security proposals. He asserted that the West needs to heed Moscow’s demands as they are “confidence-building measures.” Putin also emphasized that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project with Germany will strengthen Europe’s energy security and must continue. Russia will also continue the gas exports to Europe via Ukraine, he ascertained. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin on Tuesday made comments on the Russian Ukrainian border tensions as he asked “all sides” to adhere to a rational approach to settle the crisis. "China calls on all sides to adhere to rational approach, to settle the crisis around Ukraine and the corresponding problems via dialogue and negotiations," Wang Wenbin said in his statement. He also stressed that unilateral sanctions against Russia “will only increase the rift and standoff,” taking a stance with Russia in the entire conflict situation. 

"In the current situation, unilateral sanctions may only increase the divide and the standoff. China calls on all sides to adhere to a rational approach, to settle the crisis around Ukraine and the corresponding problems via dialogue and negotiations," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin. 

He added, “dramatization and speculations about war are not responsible behavior. Sanctions and pressure do not help to defuse the situation, and promotion of bloc standoff leads us to the old road of Cold War even stronger.”  

NATO is planning to deploy more troops in southeastern Europe, and will meet tomorrow and on Thursday to station multinational combat troops in countries southwest of Ukraine, such as Romania, to deter Russia, German Press Agency confirmed. "The danger of a new armed conflict in Europe is real," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had earlier said at a conference. And now reports emerge that NATO plans to deploy 1,000 troops to Bulgaria and Romania, and possibly to Slovakia and Hungary. 

“Nearly 30 member states have accepted a corresponding proposal from the military in a written decision-making process this week,” newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung reported. It added that thus far NATO troops were only stationed in so-called Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, as well as in Poland.

As the Russian defense ministry announced that it was removing some of the troops from the border with Kyiv, the UK government on Tuesday still hurled the threats of an imminent attack by Russia as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson cited his own "intelligence sources."  UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted out a warning that Russia could "invade Ukraine at any moment".

UK's Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer meanwhile joined the British officials' warnings as he stated despite Russia's drawdown of the troops that had apparently returned after the military exercise with the Belarusian forces, "it is not entirely clear what's happening." 

"Anything that de-escalates this is welcome but we don't know what this is yet," wanted the UK's Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in remarks with Sky news. He also cautioned that Ukraine's allies needed to stand together and had to remain vigilant. 

"Whatever other arguments and quarrels we have with the prime minister when it comes to the sovereignty of Ukraine and standing up to Russian aggression we stand as one united," said the Labour leader, referring to UK PM's partygate scandals that has divided the British parliament for weeks. 

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that he sees no demonstration of a " will to act" on Russia's side even when signs are positive that it is looking for a diplomatic solution. Stoltenberg warned on Tuesday that Russia has still amassed a significant fighting force around the regions bordering Ukraine. The troop presence is biggest since the cold war. "Everything is now in place for a new attack," the NATO chief warned after Russia and Poland FMs held bilateral dialogue under the OSCE arrangement. 

“But Russia still has time to step back from the brink, stop preparing for war and start working for a peaceful solution”, Stoltenberg said, as he said that the volatile situation on the Ukrainian border is the “most serious security crisis we have faced in Europe for decades”.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said at the presser, "we are seeing Russian openness to the conversation" but the intelligence is still "not encouraging" about deescalating tensions. Johnson stated that there is "more reason" for the UK to "remain tough" on imposing the crippling economic sanctions targeting Russian businesses and individuals. "We think that they [Russia] have a huge preparation ready to go at virtually any time," warned the UK Prime Minister. 

Johnson acknowledged that there are "signs of a diplomatic opening," on part of Russia. 

NATO's secretary-general has said that Russia's movement of some of its combat troops "might not be a proper de-escalation."His remarks come as  Russia's ministry of defense announced that its southern and western troops on the Ukrainian border are returning to the military bases after the drill with Belarus. "This does not represent a real de-escalation if equipment is left behind," said NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg. 

"What we need to see is a significant and enduring withdrawal of forces, troops and the heavy equipment," he asserted

At least 20 ships from Russia’s Northern Fleet have launched fresh Navy drills in the Barents Sea, Russia's Interfax news agency reported citing military sources from the fleet. The military drill started in the Arctic waters between Russia and Norway that seems to threaten the 2010 Agreement between the Norwegian Storting and the Russian Duma regarding the cooperation in the Barents Sea over several decades of maritime conflict. The Barents Sea is the highly contentious part of the Arctic Ocean to the north of the Norwegian and Russian mainland coasts. 

NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has reportedly said that the recent moves of drawing down the troops by Russia may give hope of diplomatic solution but it is not equivalent to deescalating the threat of invasion. At a news conference, NATO secretary-general  Stoltenberg acknowledged that Moscow is "interested in continuing with diplomatic efforts" and therefore, NATO-Russia relations talks will continue. But the NATO military alliance "will not compromise on its core principles" of defending the sovereignty of Ukraine. NATO chief did not speak about the security guarantees demanded by Russia to remove troops from eastern Europe. He iterated that NATO has "not seen any signs of reduced Russian military presence on the borders of Ukraine" or deescalation.

"We [NATO] will continue to monitor and follow closely what Russia is doing," said NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg. 

NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has said that there are "grounds for cautious optimism" as there are signs from Moscow that diplomacy should continue. But so far, EU and NATO alliance "has not seen any de-escalation on the ground."  There is no reduced military presence by Russia on Ukraine borders, except that Russian troops returned to bases after completion of Belarusian military drills, indicated the NATO chief. "Everything is in place for a new attack on Ukraine," he has reportedly warned. 

As the German chancellor has arrived in Moscow for holding talks with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin in order to de-escalate border tensions, German media on Tuesday lambasted the chancellor for "harming" Germany's standing on the crisis situation and worsening the situation. Kyiv correspondent for German newspaper Deutsche Welle Mathias Boelingersaid Chancellor Olaf Scholz is "not presenting himself in a very good manner". Boelinger separately told Sky News: "He's very new to the job, and that might be part of Putin's calculations." Putin has seen the exit of former German chancellor Angela Merkel as a "window of opportunity" and if anything Scholz is not bringing to the table the same leadership. 

Israel on Tuesday has rejected Ukraine's request of selling the Iron Dome missile defense system to counter Russian aggression, according to a report relayed by the Israeli journalist and author Nadav Eyal. According to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Tel Aviv refused Ukraine’s request to avoid confrontations with Russia or upsetting the authoritarian leader Vladimir Putin. 

“In an effort to avoid at all cost, Israeli involvement in the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, Israel refused to sell the Iron Dome missile defense system to Kyiv in order not to annoy the Russians,” the report read on Tuesday. 

The Russian parliament is preparing to send a formal address to President Vladimir Putin for the recognition of the republics in Donbas, the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblast. The lower house of the Russian Parliament voted in favour of sending a resolution on the recognition of the eastern Ukrainian regions saying that it will enable lawmakers to send help and support to Russians living in Donbas. DPR and LPR proclaimed their independence in 2014 after a coup d'etat occurred in Kyiv.

While Russia has accused Ukraine of illegally infiltrating the Donbas region, it is now warning that it would not tolerate any provocations on part of Kyiv.

Speaker of the Russian parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, wrote on telegram: "Lawmakers believe that the recognition of DPR and LPR will create the grounds for ensuring security guarantees and protecting the population of the republics from external threats, as well as strengthening international peace and regional stability in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and will initiate the process of international recognition of both states."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stated in his speech that the OSCE foreign ministers have expressed optimism regarding a 'planned dialogue' with NATO on Moscow's security proposals. He, although insisted that while Moscow will continue the dialogue with the West, they must "reach real agreements on security." 

He mentioned that matters of indivisible security, short- and intermediate-range armaments, as well as reducing the risks of war will be discussed in the ongoing talks. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that NATO and the US in their response to Moscow's security proposals have reacted positively to only some of the initiatives, and other major concerns such as the arms control treaties, have been rejected, as has been the case for several years. Lavrov questioned the bloc's readiness to discuss arms control treaties for Europe.

"There are lots of issues within Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe or OSCE that need collective actions such as military confrontations of the EU that dominate Russia’s territorial integrity, and threaten partnerships." Lavrov said. He added that the "approach of diplomacy has been compromised" and the "visibility and quality of regional security has been deteriorating" as the EU threatens the security of other nations [Russia]. 

Russia's FM iterated that "every country has right to choose unions" referring to Ukraine's bid of joining NATO, but asserted that the very alliance "dismisses principles of security." Russia's dialogue with NATO and US involved legal guarantees in documents but "no progress was seen on part of EU and US".  Lavrov warned that Moscow fears OSCE dialogue "will split into smaller discussions" and major issue of Russia's own regional security will remain unaddressed by NATO, and Washington. 

"The swiftness with which NATO has changed its position suggests that not everything is lost in relations with this bloc; [It indicates] that they can admit the obvious when they really want it", Lavrov said. "There shall be action on part of Poland to deter collective EU military actions that undermine national security of Russia." 

Effectiveness of OSCE should be "proved in actions", says Lavrov.  and must strike a balance, it has been “biased and fake." 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov asserted that Moscow needs its security demands fulfilled. While talks under the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) "would be interesting" they will not be replaced as a substitute for talks with the United States and NATO on Russia's security guarantees. "There shall be action on part of Poland to deter actions that undermine the national security of Russia," Lavrov has said, adding that the EU needs to honour Russia's concerns. 

Lavrov said that he has has sent message to FMs in EU for responses on Russia’s security proposals for which it has not received adequate answers. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated the need for the bloc's and NATO alliance's readiness to discuss arms control treaties for Europe with Russia. While he acknowledged that the US and NATO reacted positively to some of the initiatives mentioned in Moscow's security proposals, he questioned the lack of affirmation to the security guarantees sought by Russian leader Vladimir Putin to defuse tensions with Ukriane. 

Russia declared a moratorium on deploying short- and intermediate-range missiles in Europe, said Lavrov, after the US unilaterally pulled out of the INF Treaty with the US in 2019. However, "no one wanted to hear us out," he said, adding that particularly when Russia offers to "discuss new arms control measures" with EU and NATO. 

Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs and OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold a joint press conference following talks in Moscow. The two counterparts will find “points of agreement” for resolving the ongoing crisis and many “problems that have piled up over years” between Russia and the EU. 

The talks “undermine the basis of the OSCE and the goals that the heads of state set to this organization, namely, to be an organization of cooperation, dialogue, and compromises," Lavrov said in a statement, according to TASS. He added that the proposals that Russia and its partners made in the OSCE in recent years are “all rational” and can be acted on. He also emphasized on building constructive relations with Poland. 

US State Department has announced it is closing its embassy in Kyiv as tensions remained heightened between Ukraine and Russia with the West believing that the threat of an invasion is "imminent." Washington announced that it is moving all remaining staffers near the Polish border to a safe location. "I have ordered these measures for one reason -- the safety of our staff -- and we strongly urge any remaining US citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Blinken also added that the US will "temporarily relocate" the remaining diplomatic personnel in the country to Lviv, a city in western Ukraine. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price meanwhile noted that "it remains unclear to us whether Russia is interested in pursuing a diplomatic path as opposed to the use of force" but the US is taking all safest measures possible. 

European Union "is ready to discuss Russia’s security concerns", the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said. As Russia announced that it is removing some of the troops from the border with Ukraine, Borrell told BBC Radio 4: “In order to fulfill the concerns of everybody, the only way is speaking on the table and discuss." 

“If there is a war between Russia and Ukraine, Nordstream 2 would not become operational”, he added.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Tuesday that a full scale removal of Russian troops from Ukraine's border is needed after Russia stated that it is partially drawing down troops and that they were now returning to their bases.

When asked about Interfax report, Truss told LBC Radio that it is yet to be seen and that the UK will need to see more details. She added: “The Russians have claimed that they have no plans for an invasion, but we will need to see a full scale removal of troops to show that is true.”

Ukraine's foreign minister has responded to the Russian troop withdrawal as he reportedly says that Kyiv will believe that Russia intends to deescalate the tensions based on the development and response after the partial Russian troop withdrawal.  "We will believe it when we see it," said Dmytro Kuleba in response to reports that some Russian troops have begun withdrawing from border with Ukraine.

Russia is pulling back its troops from its southern and western military districts, the Russian defense ministry said sharing the footage from the Ukrainian border. Defense Ministry Spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement that the move can deescalate the tensions between the West and Russia.

His troops, said Konashenkov are loading their equipment for their departure. "As combat training measures are coming to a close, the troops, as is always the case, will conduct combined marches to their permanent garrisons. Units of the Southern and Western Military Districts that have accomplished their tasks have already begun loading personnel and equipment on railway and auto transport means and will today begin heading to their military garrisons," the statement read. 

After the Russian armoured vehicles were seen returning to defense base in the footages released by the Russian defence ministry, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova taunted at the US and West saying that the 'western propaganda humiliated and destroyed.’ Russia’s defense ministry announced that western and southern troops would be heading back to their permanent bases after they finished training exercises with Belarus. "February 15, 2022 will go down in history as the day Western war propaganda failed.  Humiliated and destroyed without a single shot fired,” wrote the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on social media. 

"Units of the Southern and Western Military Districts, which have accomplished their missions, are boarding trains and trucks and will head for their garrisons later today. Some units will join military convoys and will perform self-propelled marches," Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said, according to Interfax news agency.

The Russian defence ministry has said that some troo[s are being pulled out from the border near Ukraine and are being returned to their bases after completing drills, stated Interfax news agency. However, the report added that large-scale drills across the country still continue. 

The United States orders the destruction of networking equipment and dismantling of the telephone system of its embassy in Kyiv. US on Monday said that it is “temporarily” relocating its embassy in Kyiv to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv due to “dramatic acceleration” in the buildup of Russian forces. According to a press release, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the shift is motivated by Washington’s fears that Russia is planning to soon invade Ukraine, despite assurances otherwise from both Kyiv and Moscow. But he also added that the US embassy will remain engaged with the Ukrainian government, coordinating diplomatic engagement in Ukraine, and it will also continue its intensive diplomatic efforts to deescalate the crisis.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnky spoke to US counterpart Joe Biden where both leaders made "concrete" and "quick" decisions. He took to Twitter on Tuesday, "Strategic Partnership in actions - we are grateful to the United States for providing substantial financial support of $ 1 billion and $ 3 billion available for projects in Ukraine. Thank you @POTUS for the quick decision and concrete results after our conversation!"

The US State Department spokesperson, Ned Price, said that Washington remains committed to keeping the path of de-escalation with Russia open but at the same time it is also intensifying its effort to deter Moscow. Speaking at a press conference, Price stated that the United States is intensifying its efforts to deter Russia and to impose costs should Moscow decide to go ahead with military action. However, he also added that the US remains committed to keeping the prospect of de-escalation through diplomacy alive for as long as it can.

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In a bid to bolster support against "Russia's destabilising behaviour", the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday announced up to $1 billion in sovereign loan guarantee to Ukraine. Affirming strong support to Kyiv's economic reform agenda and continued engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Blinken said the allotment will "ensure stability" for the ex-Soviet nation in the face of imminent invasion threats from Moscow. 

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The embassy of India in Kyiv asks Indians, particularly students whose stay is not essential, to leave Ukraine temporarily in view of uncertainties of the current situation. The Embassy said in a statement, "In view of the uncertainties of the current situation in Ukraine, Indian nationals in Ukraine, particularly students, whose stay is not essential, may consider leaving temporarily". Additionally, it advised Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Ukraine.

Tensions over Ukraine are continuing to escalate amid new allegations that Russia may invade the former Soviet state on February 16, claims that are already rejected by Moscow. Now, speaking to Sputnik, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia’s foreign policy concept will be finalised in line with the current global developments. Peskov informed that Moscow’s foreign policy documents are undergoing changes. 

“You know that just a week earlier, at the operational meeting of the permanent members of the Security Council, the main outlines of our new foreign policy concept were being considered. And [now] it will be finalised as we take into account what is happening [in the world]. In this regard, the situation is not static, and it develops dialectically on our part", the Kremlin spokesperson underlined.

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As tensions between Russia and Ukraine have slipped into a "critical juncture," the US Secretary of Defense and Pentagon chief Llyod Austin is set to travel to Europe in a last-ditch effort to deter the aggressive behaviour of Moscow. The top US defence diplomat will depart for this transatlantic trip today (February 15) to meet senior military government leaders in Belgium, Poland and Lithuania, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby informed during a press briefing on Monday. 

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France on Monday said that even though there is evidence for a possible Russian invasion into Ukraine, there is still no indication that Moscow has made a decision of that sort. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said in a televised appearance on France 5, “Is there all the evidence for a major offensive of the Russian troops in Ukraine? Yes, there is, it is possible. This can happen swiftly” but underscored that nonetheless “today nothing points out" that Russia has made the decision to invade Ukraine.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said that Paris has no “intention to respond military” to any Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, le Drian added that France is supporting Ukraine financially. He warned that a war between Russia and Ukraine would be “disastrous for everyone, singularly disastrous for Russia first of all.”  In the same televised interview, the French Foreign Minister said, “If there’s a war in Ukraine, if Russia invades, Ukrainian gas, for example, won’t flow” and added that “the economic consequences will be extremely difficult to shoulder."

US Defence Department Press Secretary John Kirby while speaking to CNN asserted that Russia continued to enhance the significant capability to the border even over the weekend. He informed that Russian President Vladimir Putin continued to add combined armed capabilities and not only infantry troops, but he is adding other military capabilities as well. He stressed that the action gives Russia multiple options if it goes ahead with military aggression. 

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The US Embassy in Minsk on Monday issued a statement urging Americans to leave Belarus immediately due to “concerning” Russian military buildup along Belarus’ border with Ukraine. According to a statement on its website, the embassy asked US citizens in Belarus to depart “immediately” via commercial or private means. It also reported that late last month, the US Department of State had ordered the departure of family members of US government employees from Embassy Minsk.  

The White House on Monday said that the United States is working closely with its allies, including India, on Russia’s ongoing threat to Ukraine. Speaking at a press conference, White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre informed that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has discussed heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine with QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) member states. She added that the leaders discussed the threat that Russia’s aggression poses not only to Ukraine but to the entire international rules-based order. 

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Expressing "serious concern" over the mounting tensions between Russia and Ukraine, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday spoke with Security Council members and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Ukraine. During the discussion, the UN Chief called for a diplomatic solution to "defuse tensions and de-escalate actions" along the eastern borders of Europe.

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The US on Monday said that it is “temporarily” relocating its embassy in Kyiv to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv due to “dramatic acceleration” in the buildup of Russian forces. According to a press release, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the shift is motivated by Washington’s fears that Russia is planning to soon invade Ukraine, despite assurances otherwise from both Kyiv and Moscow.

But he also added that the US embassy will remain engaged with the Ukrainian government, coordinating diplomatic engagement in Ukraine, and it will also continue its intensive diplomatic efforts to deescalate the crisis. 

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On Monday, Canada "authorized the provision of additional military assistance" for Ukraine to help the Ukrainian forces in the face of Russia's military aggression. Canadian Armed Forces said in a statement, "Canada will donate over $7 million of lethal weapons and assorted support items to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This equipment includes machine guns, pistols, carbines, 1.5 million rounds of ammunition, sniper rifles, and various related equipment."

In a statement on Facebook, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Moscow will attack on February 16. He said, "We are intimidated by a great war and once again set the date of the military invasion. This is not the first time. But our state is stronger today than ever."

"We are told that February 16 will be the day of attack. We will make it a union day. The decree has already been signed. This afternoon we will hang national flags, put on blue-yellow ribbons and show the world our unity," Zelensky added.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has not only said that "We are on the edge of a precipice" but asserted that there is "still time for President Putin to step back" amid an ongoing crisis. According to British PM, the situation in eastern Europe is "very very dangerous and difficult".

United States President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have said that not all hope is lost for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine in the face of Russia’s military aggression. Both leaders spoke on phone for around 40 minutes and agreed that a deal was still possible despite repeatedly warning of an impending Russian invasion.

In the view of rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine, White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday warned that, "we are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time.  We will not comment on any details of our intelligence information except that — except to say that it could begin this week, despite a lot of speculation that it would happen after the Olympics — again, something that Jake Sullivan said right here on Friday."