Russia’s President Vladimir Putin launched exercises by strategic nuclear missile forces on Saturday and Washington said Russian troops massed near Ukraine’s border were “poised to strike”.
As Western nations fear the start of one the worst conflicts since the Cold War, U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said Russian forces were beginning to “uncoil and move closer” to the border with its former Soviet neighbour.
Kyiv flatly denied the accusation and both it and Washington say increased shelling across the ceasefire line this week is part of Russia’s plan to create a pretext for an invasion of Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden, who has given regular warnings of an impending invasion, said on Friday he now believes the capital Kyiv would be targeted by Russia but that he does not think Putin is even remotely contemplating using nuclear weapons.
“When you layer on top of that a very sophisticated exercise with strategic nuclear forces, that makes things complicated to the degree that you could have an accident or a mistake,” he said. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Saturday Russia knew that the alliance could not meet its demands, which include the withdrawal of NATO forces from former communist east European states that have elected to join NATO.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Biden sure Putin will invade Ukraine in days as civilians bussed outRussia's Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine within days, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday after separatists backed by Moscow told civilians to leave breakaway regions on buses.
Read more »
Russia expels second-highest ranking US diplomat in Moscow amid Ukraine tensionsThe State Department said it was 'considering our response' to an 'escalatory step.'
Read more »
US challenges Russia to step back from Ukraine attackIn a dramatic, previously unscheduled speech to the United Nations in New York, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said intelligence showed Moscow could order an assault on its neighbour in the 'coming days'.
Read more »
Ukraine crisis: Russia risks European peace with 'Cold War demands'Germany said Russia is 'challenging fundamental principles of the European peace order' with the with the unprecedented deployment of troops on the Ukraine border.
Read more »
Rand firms and JSE edges up as investors eye Russia-Ukraine tensionCurrency holds firm below R15 against the dollar, while local bourse’s global peers are mixed
Read more »
Bitcoin, ethereum lead sell-off in cryptocurrencies as Russia-Ukraine tensions dampen spiritsBitcoin and cryptocurrencies broadly were in the red on Friday as worries about a Russian invasion of Ukraine persisted, despite the prospect of diplomatic talks.
Read more »