U.S. intelligence officials have determined Russia is planning a possible military offensive against Ukraine that could begin as soon as early 2022 and would include an estimated 175,000 personnel, according to an administration official.
President Joe Biden listens to a reporters question after delivering remarks on the November jobs report, in the State Dining Room of the White House, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Washington. U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russian planning is underway for a possible military offensive against Ukraine that could begin as soon as early 2022 and would include an estimated 175,000 personnel, according to an administration official.
Intelligence officials also have seen an uptick in Russian information operations’ use of proxies and media outlets to denigrate Ukraine and NATO ahead of a potential invasion, the official said.Earlier Friday, President Joe Biden pledged to make it “very, very difficult” for Russia’s Vladimir Putin to take military action in Ukraine and said new initiatives coming from his administration are intended to deter Russian aggression.
There are signs that the White House and Kremlin are close to arranging a conversation next week between Biden and Putin. Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters Friday that arrangements have been made for a Putin-Biden call in the coming days, adding that the date will be announced after Moscow and Washington finalize details. The Russians say a date has been agreed upon, but declined to say when.
“It certainly would be an opportunity to discuss our serious concerns about the bellicose rhetoric, about the military buildup that we’re seeing on the border of Ukraine,” Psaki said of a potential Biden-Putin call. Blinken this week said the U.S. has “made it clear to the Kremlin that we will respond resolutely, including with a range of high-impact economic measures that we’ve refrained from using in the past.”
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ukraine says Russia amassed over 94,000 troops at border | AP NewsUkraine’s defense minister estimates that Russia has amassed more than 94,000 troops near their borders and says there is a probability of a “large-scale escalation” in late January. Moscow has denied planning to invade.
Read more »
Opinion | Deterring Russia in UkraineFrom WSJopinion: The best way to send a message to Putin is more lethal military assistance to Ukraine, whose troops are fighting and dying against Russian-backed separatists in the east
Read more »
US urges Russia to take diplomatic route on Ukraine or face consequencesUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns his Russian counterpart Lavrov of the 'serious consequences' Russia would suffer if it invades Ukraine
Read more »
Opinion | In the Russia-Ukraine Conflict, Standing Up to Putin Is Our Only Credible OptionOpinion: A recent op-ed suggested that President Biden should push Ukraine to make a key concession to Russia. Here's why that would be a huge mistake.
Read more »
Russia planning 'significant aggressive moves against Ukraine,' Blinken warnsThe U.S. is 'deeply concerned by evidence that Russia has made plans for significant aggressive moves against Ukraine,' Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.
Read more »
As warnings fly between U.S. and Russia, how real is the threat of war in Ukraine?So far, tensions between Washington and Moscow over Ukraine have been restricted to a war of words, but could it flare into something more dangerous? LauraKingLAT reports:
Read more »