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February 13, US President Joseph Biden spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, the White House reported.
“President Biden made clear that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, together with its Allies and partners, to any further Russian aggression against Ukraine. The two leaders agreed on the importance of continuing to pursue diplomacy and deterrence in response to Russia’s military build-up on Ukraine’s borders,” reads the White House press release.
All these events took place amid the US has warned of the “very distinct possibility” of a Russian invasion of Ukraine in the next few days, potentially involving an overwhelming attack on Kyiv, and told all remaining Americans to leave the country in the next 48 hours. New US intelligence suggests Russia could intend to attack Ukraine before the end of the Olympics (February 20). The White House believes air attacks are likely first.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has announced that it is withdrawing the families of its diplomats from Ukraine. At the same time, Latvia, Norway, Japan, South Korea, Montenegro, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States called on their citizens to “leave Ukraine immediately.”
Russian President Putin gave no indication in a phone call with his French counterpart Macron that he was preparing to invade Ukraine, a French presidency official said on February 12.
Read also: Ukraine’s MFA urgent message on countering threats of Russian invasion
Heads of the Ukrainian parliament and Government urged Ukrainians to avoid panic and to trust the Armed Forces of Ukraine and diplomats.
