Will February 19 be the day Russia invades Ukraine? The lights will be red by any means, and this Saturday is marked Death of two Ukrainian soldiers At the border. France and Germany are urging their compatriots to leave Ukraine, where the threat of a Russian invasion has never been credible. The bomber struck shortly after 3pm this Saturday as he was moving in front of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry.
The day began with a threatening message marked at dawn by the death of a Ukrainian soldier. This was followed by a Russian military scene: the missile was launched under the supervision of Russian President Vladimir Putin. At this point, the West sought to acknowledge the potential response to a possible attack by Moscow from a conference on security in Munich (Germany).
At the end of the afternoon, after a second of soldiers died in broad daylight, Ukraine raised its tone and urged the West to support it. “For eight years, Ukraine has been a shield. For eight years, Ukraine has maintained one of the largest armies in the world, not within our borders, not within the borders of the European Union,” the Ukrainian leader began in Munich. Volodymyr Zhelensky says he is ready to meet with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as a last resort to prevent an open war. Update the situation.
Russia shows muscles
Large-scale military maneuvers, the launch of nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles … all under the watchful eye of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow has demonstrated that it is conducting these “strategic” military exercises this Saturday morning Another power show This reinforces a hypothesis Disaster situation.
According to the Kremlin, these Russian exercises are part of a “routine training process”. But forces were mobilized – southern military district forces, space forces, northern and Black Sea navies and “strategic forces” – and stationed arsenals – intercontinental ballistic missiles, strategic bombers, submarines, ships and naval aircraft. The aircraft carrying conventional missiles – the opposite.
In Munich, Westerners try to speak with one voice
US Vice President Kamala Harris, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Gelensky, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson … all made a significant commitment to the Ukrainian crisis during a security conference in Munich this Saturday. US Vice President Kamala Harris assured on the spot that “we will not stand for economic activity. We will further strengthen our NATO allies in the East.” Boris Johnson, for his part, called for “unity” in the West.
This unit can chip. Germany, the current head of the G7, has called for action, as the United States has been warning for days about an “immediate” invasion of Russia. “In crisis situations, it is a very bad thing to try to guess or speculate what will happen,” Foreign Minister Annalena Barbach said after the G7 meeting, which ruled that it was “important to take a closer look” at the situation on the ground.
On the French side, Emmanuel Macron was due to speak by phone with his Ukrainian envoy this Saturday, but no further information has been leaked as to whether the meeting took place later in the afternoon. On Sundays, there should always be a telephone exchange with President Vladimir Putin, as is the discussion of the last chance.
The ceasefire was undermined
On Saturday morning, the two sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement on the Ukrainian border. Observers for the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Europe have noted a “dramatic increase” in these violations. According to them, the number of armed incidents before July 2020, when the agreement to strengthen the ceasefire was reached, is now at the forefront.
On Friday, the Russian state-run Ria Novosti announced two explosions, including an oil pipeline in the separatist-held city of Lukansk in eastern Ukraine. Authorities in pro-Russian separatist territories have ordered the deportation of civilians to Russia, which continues on Saturday.
Video. School bombing in Ukraine: Russia accused of “directing” excuses for invasion
Call for a “public mobilization” of separatists
In the war with Ukraine, the leader of the pro-Russian separatist “Republic” announced on Saturday a “general mobilization” because fears of a Russian attack are at an all-time high. “I call on my fellow allocators to report to military compulsory offices. Today I signed the General Mobilization Order, ”Denise Bouchill said in a video statement. An hour later, Lukansk’s separatist leader ordered a public mobilization.
A diplomatic conflict
The Kremlin continues to deny any intention of attacking its neighbors, but demands guarantees for Russia’s security, such as the withdrawal of NATO from Eastern Europe, which the West has denied. President of the United States Joe Biden said on Friday that he was “determined” that Vladimir Putin had decided to invade Ukraine.And the escalation of conflicts was the target Create a “false justification” The attack should start in the week or even in the coming days.
Video. Crisis in Ukraine: Possible Russian offensive, according to Biden, “in the next few days”
But he opened the door to conversation. He assessed that “diplomacy is always possible” until an invasion takes place, and next Thursday announced a meeting between his foreign minister, Anthony Blinken, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
According to the United States, Russia is on the verge of collapse
Washington estimates that Russia has 190,000 men in the suburbs of Ukraine and on its borders, including separatist forces. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said it was “the greatest concentration of military troops” since the Cold War, and ruled that Moscow could “strike without further warning.”
The Pentagon said Friday that 40% to 50% of these Russian troops were “under attack” and that the clashes in the front line were an early part of the “campaign to destabilize Ukraine” for an invasion. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told the ABC that Russia had collected the elements “necessary for a successful invasion.” “I do not believe this is nonsense,” he said.