Ukraine-Russia conflict: Joe Biden agrees to meet Putin if tensions stop

Nevertheless, the US officials believe Russia will launch an attack and will invade Ukraine in the next few days.

The summit was proposed by the French President Emmanuel Macron in order for the leaders to meet and talk about “security and strategic stability in Europe”.

As Joe Biden has agreed “in principle” to meet the Russian President for the summit, only if his troops don’t attack Ukraine, The White House representatives stated that Russia seems to be preparing for a “full-scale assault” despite public statements.

“The president has repeatedly made clear, we are committed to pursuing diplomacy until the moment an invasion begins. We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war,” commented Jen Psaki, press secretary at The White House.

Similarly, Boris Johnson has declared that the conflict in Ukraine could be the “biggest in Europe since 1945”, amid tensions escalating in the area and concerns connected to Vladimir Putin’s invasion strategy. The UK Prime Minister also underlined that finding a diplomatic way to stop an imminent war between Russia and its neighbour is “crucial”.

According to US officials, Russia has now between 169.000 and 190.000 troops present at the Ukrainian borders, almost double from around 100.000 at the end of last month, in “biggest mobilisation of troops since the second world war”, despite last week’s claims of withdrawing troops after military exercise in the area.

However, the satellite images released by a private company called Maxar Technologies show new military equipment and new troops deployed in the region.

"This new activity represents a change in the pattern of the previously observed deployments of battle groups (tanks, armored personnel carriers, artillery and support equipment)," Maxar representatives commented in a press release yesterday.

Meanwhile, two civilians lost their lives on Sunday in Ukrainian shelling, in Pionerskoye, near the border with Russia, RIA news agency reported. The statement belongs to the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (People's Militia of the LPR) representatives.

"As a result of the aggression of the Kiev militants, two civilians were killed, 5 residential buildings were destroyed. Our defenders repulsed the attack and pushed the enemy back to their previously occupied positions. There were no losses among the personnel," the report quotes.

More updates on the current major Eastern Europe conflict to follow.

 

Source: independent.co.uk