2 year ago In a phone call @POTUS and @niinisto "discussed their shared concern over Russia's unprovoked military build-up on Ukraine's borders," according to the @WhiteHouse
"1 of the things that we were willing to talk to the Russian s abt was changing the scale & scope of our exercises if & only if there was going to be reciprocity on the Russian side" per @PentagonPresSec "We see no signs of de-escalation" re Ukraine
2 year ago .@SecBlinken heading to Kyiv for talks on Ukraine crisis, followed by meeting with Lavrov in Geneva
FM of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba: Years of Russian aggression have taught us one thing: escalations are always accompanied by heating up the information space. The aim is to weaken us from within. Don't buy scaremongering. Army & diplomacy are protecting Ukraine. Ukrainians win with a warm heart and a cool head
Russia-Ukraine "We're going to continue to look for ways to help Ukraine defend itself" but no new announcements on assistance, per @PentagonPresSec "We're going to continue to watch the situation on the ground" he says, adding no changes to Florida Nat'l Guard presence
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly condemned Russia massing troops near Ukraine's borders on Tuesday and said Ottawa would take a decision at the appropriate time on supplying military hardware to Ukraine
2 year ago A large convoy of military equipment with Russian license plates was moving along the M5 highway from Minsk towards Asipovichy, Mogilev region, today (18.01)
2 year ago "No option is off the table" if Russia "further invades Ukraine," @PressSec tells @WhiteHouse reporters. "We're now at a stage where Russia at any time could launch an attack on Ukraine
US Department of State: Today, @SecBlinken and Spanish Foreign Minister @jmalbares met to reaffirm the strong U.S.-Spain partnership, encourage efforts to stop further Russian aggression, and expand U.S-Spain collaboration in Latin America
Senior State Dept Official: "Russia has two choices: diplomacy and de-escalation, or escalation and massive consequencesThe United States remains committed to diplomacy and believes it is the best and most responsible way forward
.@statedept official acknowledges recent movement of Russian troops into Belarus affects timeline for potential incursion: "And let's be clear: this is extremely dangerous. We are now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack on Ukraine."
Secretary of State Blinken will meet in Geneva on Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov following Blinken's travel to Kyiv & Berlin. The Lavrov meeting resulted from their call this morning and "suggests that perhaps diplomacy is not dead," a Senior State Dept official said
While in Kyiv, Secretary Blinken "will also meet with the employees and families of the U.S. Embassy to communicate the Department's efforts to plan for contingencies, should Russia choose to escalate further
2 year ago Allegedly Russian troops near Rechitsa
Putin had a conversation with the leader of Nicaragua, Ortega, reaffirmed support for the efforts of the Nicaraguan government to ensure national sovereignty, and stressed the importance of continuing close coordination in the international arena
2 year ago Sec Gen Stoltenberg says NATO has information confirming US claims of a "significant Russian presence of intelligence officers or operatives inside Ukraine." He says it's "absolutely possible" they're planning "incidents, accidents, false flag operations
2 year ago NATO SecGen Stoltenberg says in the next few days the alliance will deliver to Russia written responses to Moscow's proposals for changes to the way the alliance operates
2 year ago Blinken called Russia's Lavrov hours before leaving to Ukraine and Germany. Discussed "deeply troubling Russian military build-up, reiterated unshakable US commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty & territorial integrity."
Secretary of State Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov had phone call
NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg to @BILD "We must not forget that some Russian troops are already on Ukrainian territory. We are following Russian movements very, very closely"
2 year ago Loading of military echelon in Khabarovsk Krai of Russia
NATO's Stoltenberg says we encourage Russia to reverse its decision to cut ties with NATO
2 year ago Russian markets seriously falling. Sberbank, Yandex, Alrosa, Aeroflot among top losers
NATO's Stoltenberg says we are prepared to resume exchange briefings on exercises and nuclear issues with Russia
NATO's Stoltenberg says NATO allies are ready to engage with Russia and concerns Moscow may have
NATO's Stoltenberg says any further escalation in the Ukraine crisis will come at a high price for Russia
German Chancellor Scholz says we expect Russia to de-escalate the situation on the Ukrainian border, for example by reducing troop levels there
NATO Secretary General @jensstoltenberg's press conference with Chancellor @OlafScholz of Germany
Mi-8 helicopter crash landed near Varandey airport in Nenets Autonomous Okrug, 11 were on board, no casualties
2 year ago Russian troops were seen in Mozyr (Gomel region, Belarus)