Washington DC, Feb 12: Saying Russia could invade Ukraine 'any day now, the United States has issued a warning to its American citizens and has asked them to leave the country within the next 48 hours. Adding to the sense of crisis, the Pentagon ordered an additional 3,000 U.S. troops to Poland to reassure allies.
Addressing the Press, the White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, said "We continue to see signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border. The risk is now high enough and the threat is now immediate enough".
"If a Russian attack on Ukraine proceeds, it is likely, to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could kill civilians without regard to their nationality," he added.
US intelligence believes a rapid assault on Kyiv was also possible and that Russian President Vladimir Putin could order an invasion before the Winter Olympics end on February 20, Sullivan said, adding it remains unclear whether such a command has been given.
"And I want to take a moment to echo what both President Biden and Secretary Blinken have already said: We encourage all American citizens who remain in Ukraine to depart immediately. We want to be crystal-clear on this point: Any American in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible, and in any event, in the next 24 to 48 hours," Sullivan said.
US intelligence believes a rapid assault on Kyiv was also possible and that Russian President Vladimir Putin could order an invasion before the Winter Olympics end on February 20, Sullivan said, adding it remains unclear whether such a command has been given.
Moscow, however, denies planning to invade Ukraine but says it could take unspecified "military-technical" action if its demands are not met.
Russia, notably, has already massed more than 1,00,000 troops near Ukraine, and this week had launched joint military exercises in neighbouring Belarus and naval drills in the Black Sea.
"And I want to take a moment to echo what both President Biden and Secretary Blinken have already said: We encourage all American citizens who remain in Ukraine to depart immediately. We want to be crystal-clear on this point: Any American in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible, and in any event, in the next 24 to 48 hours," Sullivan said.
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