The leaders of the United States and the United Kingdom have expressed optimism that a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis is still possible, but have warned that the situation is still fragile.
Despite a chorus of warnings of imminent Russian military action, Joe Biden and Boris Johnson agreed in a 40-minute call that a deal was still possible.
Despite massing over 100,000 troops on the border, Russia has always denied plans to invade Ukraine.
Its foreign minister said on Monday that diplomacy was “far from exhausted.”
Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin later on Tuesday as part of diplomatic efforts to avert an invasion.
After being chastised for his slow initial response, Mr. Scholz met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Kyiv on Monday, saying the Russian military build-up had “no reasonable justification.”
More than a dozen countries have urged their citizens to flee Ukraine, while the United States has warned that aerial bombardments could start “at any time.”
According to a Downing Street statement, Mr. Biden and Mr. Johnson said there was still a “critical window” for diplomacy and for Russia to back off its threats against Ukraine during their conversation.
“The leaders emphasized that any further incursion into Ukraine would result in a protracted crisis for Russia, with far-reaching consequences for both Russia and the rest of the world,” according to the statement.
Mr. Johnson is said to have said that the UK would do everything possible to assist, to which Mr. Biden reportedly replied, “We’re not going anywhere without you pal.”
On Tuesday, Mr. Johnson will hold a Cobra meeting to discuss the UK’s response to the pressures.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky declared 16 February, a date cited by US officials as a possible day for a Russian attack, a “day of unity,” and praised the military’s strength in a defiant speech to the nation on Monday.
“We’ve got something to say in response. We have a fantastic army… an army that is many times stronger than it was eight years ago.”
He did say, however, that he wanted to resolve all issues through diplomacy and negotiations.
The president of Ukraine ended his speech on a positive note: “You may now believe that there is nothing but darkness all around you. But the sun will rise over our peaceful sky again tomorrow.”
Other recent developments include:
- Due to unusual and concerning Russian military activity around Ukraine, the US is urging all Americans in Belarus and the Russian-backed Moldovan breakaway region of Trans-Dniester to leave immediately.
- According to the Pentagon, Russia is increasing military deployments near Ukraine’s border, and President Vladimir Putin has a variety of options if he wants to use military force.
- The US embassy in Kyiv is being completely decommissioned and relocated to Lviv in western Ukraine.
- Some of Russia’s military drills near Ukraine’s border have already ended, while others are about to end, according to the Russian defense minister.
- Vladimir Chizhov, Russia’s envoy to the European Union, said Russia would retaliate if its citizens were killed, including in Ukraine’s rebel-held Donbass region. More than 700,000 people in Donbas now have Russian citizenship.
- When asked if there was a chance for a deal with the West, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the “possibilities are far from being exhausted,” adding that “they certainly should not continue indefinitely,” but “I would suggest continuing and ramping them up.”
Mr. Lavrov’s remarks, made during a meeting with Mr. Putin, are being interpreted as a clear admission that talks could help to reduce tensions. Analysts say there is still a deadlock if neither side moves on the thorny issue of Ukraine potentially joining NATO.
Ukraine, a former Soviet republic with deep social and cultural ties to Russia, cannot join Nato, according to the Kremlin, which has demanded that this be ruled out. This request was turned down by Nato members.
MORE:
