Some airlines have canceled or diverted flights to Ukraine amid heightened fears that an invasion by Russia is imminent despite intensive weekend talks between the Kremlin and the West.
WASHINGTON — Some airlines canceled flights to the Ukrainian capital and troops there unloaded fresh shipments of weapons from NATO members Sunday, as its president sought to project confidence in the face ofPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to President Joe Biden for about an hour, insisting that Ukrainians had the country under “safe and reliable protection” against feared attack by a far stronger Russian military, aides said afterward.
A U.S. official updated the Biden administration's estimate for how many Russian forces are now staged near Ukraine's borders to more than 130,000, up from the more than 100,000 the U.S. has cited publicly in previous weeks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the administration's conclusions.Zelenskyy has repeatedly played down the U.S. warnings, questioning the increasingly strident statements from U.S.
Zelenskyy wore military olive drab at a drill with tanks and helicopters near Ukraine's border with Russian-annexed Crimea this weekend. In the nearby city of Kalanchak, some expressed disbelief that Putin would really send his troops rolling into the country. The U.S. largely has not made public the evidence it says is underlying its most specific warnings on possible Russian planning or timing.
Putin denies any intention of attacking Ukraine. Russia is demanding that the West keep former Soviet countries out of NATO. It also wants NATO to refrain from deploying weapons near its border and to roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe — demands flatly rejected by the West. The Putin-Biden conversation, following a call between Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the day, came at a critical moment for what has become the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. U.S. officials believe they have mere days to prevent an invasion and enormous bloodshed in Ukraine.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Biden, Putin plan high-stakes call on Saturday amid Ukraine-Russia tensionsRussian President Vladimir Putin and President Joe Biden are holding a call on Saturday as tensions over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine escalated.
Read more »
Pentagon orders departure of U.S. troops in Ukraine as Russia crisis escalatesOn Friday, President Joe Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, urged any Americans still in Ukraine to leave immediately.
Read more »
Biden's national security adviser says Russia could invade Ukraine 'any day now'National security adviser Jake Sullivan issued a stark warning on Sunday that the United States believes Russia could launch an invasion of Ukraine this week, but is still holding out hope diplomacy can prevail.
Read more »
Flights to Ukraine halted, redirected as crisis brews with RussiaSome airlines have canceled or diverted flights to Ukraine amid heightened fears that an invasion by Russia is imminent despite intensive weekend talks between the Kremlin and the West.
Read more »
In call, Biden tells Putin US and allies will respond 'decisively' if Russia invades Ukraine - updatesThe State Department Friday directed most staff who remain in the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv to leave Ukraine immediately on worries Moscow could act soon.
Read more »
German Leader Travels to Russia, Ukraine as Tensions GrowGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz is flying to Ukraine and Russia this week in an effort to help defuse escalating tensions as Western intelligence officials warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is increasingly imminent.
Read more »