A distinct possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine remains, US President Joe Biden said as his Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin left for a trip to the region amid a growing crisis in Europe.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday urged citizens to observe a “day of unity” as Washington warned once again that Russia was ready to launch a devastating attack.
An intense diplomatic campaign is underway to deal with the crisis triggered by Russia’s deployment of more than 100,000 troops to Ukraine’s borders, fleet reinforcements and support from powerful artillery and missile systems.
A Russian cyber attack?
On Tuesday, Ukraine said there had been cyberattacks on the websites of the country’s defense ministry and armed forces as well as two banks that may be of Russian origin.
verifiable withdrawal
But US President Joe Biden – who has ordered the closure of Washington’s embassy in Kiev and urged Americans to leave Ukraine – demanded that Russia prove its good intentions with a verifiable return.
“Analysts have indicated they remain in a very dangerous position,” Biden said in an address on the crisis. “The United States is ready no matter what. We are ready with diplomacy,” he said.
“And we are prepared to give a decisive response to the Russian attack on Ukraine, which still has great potential,” he said, warning of “powerful sanctions.”
Blinken discusses Ukraine crisis with Albanian prime minister
State Department spokesman Ned Price said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had extensive discussions with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Ram on Wednesday on mutual interests, including concerns over the situation in Ukraine.
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