Yesterday at 16:36
February 15, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated there are signs from Moscow that diplomacy should continue, saying that this “gives grounds for cautious optimism.” Alliance press office reported this.
At the same time, the Secretary General stressed that there is no indication of any de-escalation on the ground. “Russia has amassed a fighting force in and around Ukraine, unprecedented since the Cold War”, Mr. Stoltenberg said ahead of a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers on Wednesday.
“Everything is now in place for a new attack, but Russia still has time to step back from the brink”, Mr. Stoltenberg said, urging Russia “to stop preparing for war and start working for a peaceful solution to the crisis.”
“The movement of forces does not represent real de-escalation,” Stoltenberg said.
His comments came as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the latest diplomatic effort to defuse the crisis.
Earlier today, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Poland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau invited Russia to launch a new security dialogue in Europe. He stated this at a press conference in Moscow.
Russia could invade Ukraine at any moment, British foreign minister Liz Truss said following a meeting of the government’s crisis response committee.
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).
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal has urged citizens not to panic, but to trust the Ukrainian army and believe in their country.
Read also: Russia could invade at any moment and we urge the Kremlin to deescalate, – UK
The Minister said that unlike in 2014, the current Ukrainian army is fully supplied with everything necessary – from fuel to weapons. In addition, the Armed Forces regularly monitor developments and the military is ready to fight back the enemy at any moment.
