Biden and Zelensky : Washington initiated discussions early next week in the UN Security Council on the Ukrainian crisis, and Joe Biden, during telephone conversations with Volodymyr Zelensky, warned of the possibility of a “Russian invasion” of Ukraine as early as February. The conversation between the two presidents sparked a series of disputes between Washington and Kiev, which were reflected in the reports of the American and British media.
CNN: A phone conversation between US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday “did not go smoothly,” a senior Ukrainian official told CNN amid controversy over the “risk levels” of a Russian attack. The White House, however, disputed the official’s account, arguing that anonymous sources “spread fakes.” They said Biden warned Zelensky that an imminent invasion was a “likely possibility.”
In a phone call that a Ukrainian source described as “long and frank,” Biden warned his Ukrainian counterpart of a Russian attack, arguing that an invasion is now all but inevitable when the ground freezes later in February. Zelenskiy, however, reiterated his position that the Russian threat remains “dangerous but ambiguous” and there is no certainty that an attack will take place, the source said.
National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horn disputed the description by a senior Ukrainian official. “Anonymous sources are leaking lies,” she told CNN. “President Biden said there was a clear possibility that the Russians might invade Ukraine in February. He stated this publicly and we have been warning about it for months. Reports of anything greater than or different from this are entirely false.”…
The White House report said Biden “reaffirmed” to Zelensky that the United States would “strongly respond if Russia continues to invade Ukraine.” Biden also said the US would look into “additional macroeconomic support” to help the Ukrainian economy as a result of Russia’s military buildup.
Sky News: Joe Biden warned the President of Ukraine that there is “a clear possibility that Russia could take military action against this country in February.” The Kremlin took a similarly grim tone, saying it saw “little cause for optimism” in dealing with the crisis after the US again rejected major Russian demands this week.
The White House said U.S. President Volodymyr Zelensky’s comments in a telephone conversation heightened concerns that administration officials have been voicing for some time…
On Thursday, the US Ambassador to the UN asked the Security Council to hold an open meeting on Monday. “Russia is engaging in destabilizing actions against Ukraine that pose a clear threat to international peace and security and the UN Charter,” said Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. “Now is not the time to wait and see. The Council’s full attention is needed now, and we look forward to a direct and focused discussion on Monday.”
“As we continue to tirelessly engage in diplomacy to reduce tensions in the face of this grave threat to European and global peace and security, the UN Security Council is an essential platform for diplomacy,” says Thomas-Greenfield.
The UN Security Council has met dozens of times to discuss the Ukraine issue since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, but is unable to take action because Russia has veto power.
Biden’s warning came in a phone call with Zelenskiy, in which they also agreed on “joint action for the future” and discussed financial support. The US has tried to reassure EU members that it will help them find alternative sources of gas if Russia cuts off supplies. Approximately one third of gas supplies to the EU countries come from Russia. Earlier, the US threatened to block the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany if Moscow takes steps towards Ukraine.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said: “I want to be very clear: if Russia invades Ukraine one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move on. We will work with Germany to ensure he doesn’t move forward.”
The Guardian: Stepping up the diplomatic offensive, the US convened a public meeting on Monday at the UN Security Council on Russia’s ‘threatening behavior’, hoping to draw condemnation even though Moscow could veto any resolutions.
Biden also spoke on the phone Thursday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and said the US was considering economic support after providing $650 million in military aid over the past year. Biden “reaffirmed the willingness of the United States, along with its allies and partners, to respond decisively if Russia continues to invade Ukraine,” the White House said in a statement.
But Biden, acknowledging the danger of the moment, reiterated his warning that Ukraine could indeed face a Russian invasion next month… NATO put 8,500 troops on standby for the Ukraine crisis, reminiscent of the Cold War with the Soviet Union.
Russia denies any invasion plans, but last month demanded broad security guarantees from the West, notably that Ukraine would never be allowed to join the US-led NATO military alliance. Washington on Wednesday issued a response in coordination with NATO allies such as Britain and France, saying that Ukraine has the right to determine its own allies, while offering Russia talks on missile deployment and other mutual issues.
The New York Times:“When President Biden held a videoconference with European leaders this week about Ukraine, it expressed the entire reality of the Cold War crisis, filled with the specter of Russian tanks and troops threatening Eastern Europe. But Biden has expanded the number of seats on his war council, adding Poland, Italy and the European Union to the usual mix of Britain, France and Germany… For the Biden administration, this amounts to a much-needed diplomatic reset.
The United States is moving with vigor and dexterity in orchestrating a response to Russian threats, European officials say. Since mid-November, Biden has held at least 180 summits or other contacts with European representatives … Despite the fact that at home he is weighed down by internal problems,
In a phone call on Thursday, Biden promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the United States and its allies would “strongly respond if Russia continues to invade Ukraine,” the White House said in a statement… The United States also called on the UN Security Council to hold a public meeting on Monday to discuss “Russia’s threatening behavior towards Ukraine”. “Now is not the time to sit and wait,” Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Thursday.
The United States does not rely solely on diplomacy. They have put 8,500 troops on alert for deployment to Eastern Europe, sent defensive weapons to Ukraine, and are negotiating to divert natural gas from other suppliers if Russia cuts off gas pipelines that supply Germany and other countries…
Biden has not been without mistakes: His recent announcement that a “minor invasion” by Russia would elicit a different Western reaction than a full-scale invasion angered Ukraine and alarmed European governments, especially those in countries bordering Russia. This required hasty corrective action by the White House.”
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