On Friday, President Joe Biden warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to invade Ukraine.
In an hour-long phone call with Putin earlier this week, the White House said Biden made it clear to Putin what he would risk should he order an invasion of Ukraine. The call came hours after the U.S. moved some of its forces out of Ukraine and ordered an evacuation of most of its embassy staff on Saturday as fear of a Russian invasion increased.
The President’s national security advisor warned Americans living in Ukraine to leave since an invasion could start with aerial bombings that could kill civilians.
Biden said that a further Russian invasion of Ukraine would “produce widespread human suffering and diminish Russia’s standing.” Biden said he had been “clear with President Putin that while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy.”
Putin said the U.S. and its allies have been “pumping up” Ukraine with new weapons and encouraging provocations in southeastern Ukraine and Crimea where Russian troops are stationed. Even though Putin says he has pulled some troops out of Ukraine, the U.S. believes an attack is imminent.
