US closes embassy in Kiev; report: Russia's military has moved to offensive positions

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14/02/2022

Monday, 14 February 2022, 12:49 Updated: Tuesday, 15 February 2022, 10:11

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In the video: Lavrov advises Putin to continue talks to resolve the crisis with Ukraine (Photo: Reuters)

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinkan announced tonight (Monday) the closure of the embassy in Kiev and the transfer of the rest of diplomatic activity to western Ukraine.

This is due to the fear that Russia, which has concentrated about 130,000 troops on the borders of Ukraine, could invade at any time.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the State Department had ordered embassy staff in Kiev to destroy computer equipment for fear of falling into hostile hands.

At the same time, CBS reported tonight that some Russian forces had left their assembly areas and began moving to offensive positions, where artillery and short-range rocket launchers were deployed.

Moscow continues to deny that it has any intention of attacking its neighbor and stressed that it is interested in further diplomatic contacts, but in the West no signs of this are yet seen on the ground.

Tonight, US President Joe Biden spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and the two agreed that there is a critical window of opportunity to prevent war by political means.

"The leaders stressed that any further invasion of Ukraine would cause a protracted crisis for Russia, with far-reaching damage to both Russia and the world," Johnson's office said, along with Biden showing a front-line attack on Moscow in recent weeks.

Eight more U.S. F-15 fighter jets arrived in Poland today to participate in NATO air policing amid continued signs of escalation on Poland's border with Ukraine. Over the weekend, U.S. officials said 3,000 more U.S. troops would be sent to Poland in the coming days.

Russian Army tanks in exercise in Leningrad Oblast, today (Photo: AP)

Despite Western warnings that war could break out at any moment, the Ukrainian leadership is trying to send reassuring messages.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zalansky declared Wednesday a sabbatical for the "unity" of the country.

"We have been told that February 16 will be the day of the attack, but we will make it Unity Day," declared Zalansky, who called on politicians and businessmen who have left the country in recent weeks to return in the next 24 hours to demonstrate unity.

He had earlier met with German Chancellor Olaf Schultz, who would continue from Kiev to Moscow to meet with Putin, and ruled out the possibility that Ukraine would give up its ambition to join NATO. " "In the future alliance, because these are risks associated with Russia's response," he told a news conference with Schultz in Kiev. "I believe we need to continue on the path we have chosen."

Meanwhile, three senior Western security sources told Reuters that Russian mercenaries linked to Russia's intelligence services have stepped up their presence in Ukraine in recent weeks, raising fears among some NATO members that Russia could try to engineer a ground for invasion. That a Russian invasion of Ukraine would advance an information war, and cyber attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure such as electricity and gas networks,

saying Russia could also use mercenaries to sow chaos and paralyze Ukraine through targeted assassinations and the use of special weapons.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a meeting in Moscow, February 14, 2022 (Photo: Reuters)

In parallel with reports of accelerating Russia's military preparations, Moscow yesterday sent messages that it was ready to continue the dialogue even though the West had rejected its demands.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today advised Putin to continue talks, while at the same time, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed Putin that some of Russia's military exercises are coming to an end or have already ended.

In marking the path the Kremlin may choose, lawmakers from Russia's ruling party have drafted a proposal to examine recognition of the two separatist provinces in eastern Ukraine as independent states.

Parliament will discuss the proposal later in the day, and the final decision will be sent to Putin.

Official recognition of separatist-dominated districts since 2014 is expected to exacerbate tensions.

Protesters call for sanctions on Russia during a visit by German Chancellor Olaf Schultz to Kiev, Ukraine, February 14, 2022 (Photo: Reuters)

A senior Russian military official has warned today that Russia is ready to open fire on foreign ships and submarines that will infiltrate its territorial waters.

However, the senior official, quoted by the Interfax news agency, said the decision would be made only "at the highest levels".

This is after Moscow claimed that an American submarine had invaded its territory near the islands in the Pacific, while Washington denied this.

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