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| Biden considers Ukraine options as Pentagon puts US troops on ‘heightened’ alert – live | Biden considers Ukraine options as Pentagon puts US troops on ‘heightened’ alert – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| White House tells Americans in Ukraine to consider leaving as president discusses escalating conflict with European leaders – follow the latest | White House tells Americans in Ukraine to consider leaving as president discusses escalating conflict with European leaders – follow the latest |
| Greetings from Washington, live blog readers. | Greetings from Washington, live blog readers. |
| Joe Biden is preparing for potential conflict in Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin considers an invasion and builds up his troop presence along the border. | Joe Biden is preparing for potential conflict in Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin considers an invasion and builds up his troop presence along the border. |
| The department of defense spokesperson, John Kirby, said yesterday that the US has placed 8,500 troops on heightened alert to deploy if necessary. The White House is also urging Americans in Ukraine to consider leaving the country. | The department of defense spokesperson, John Kirby, said yesterday that the US has placed 8,500 troops on heightened alert to deploy if necessary. The White House is also urging Americans in Ukraine to consider leaving the country. |
| Meanwhile, Biden held a virtual meeting with some of his European counterparts yesterday to discuss “their continued concern about the Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders”. | Meanwhile, Biden held a virtual meeting with some of his European counterparts yesterday to discuss “their continued concern about the Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders”. |
| “The leaders underscored their shared desire for a diplomatic resolution to the current tensions and reviewed recent engagements with Russia in multiple formats,” the White House said in its readout of the meeting. | “The leaders underscored their shared desire for a diplomatic resolution to the current tensions and reviewed recent engagements with Russia in multiple formats,” the White House said in its readout of the meeting. |
| “The leaders also discussed their joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, including preparations to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia for such actions as well as to reinforce security on NATO’s eastern flank.” | “The leaders also discussed their joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, including preparations to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia for such actions as well as to reinforce security on NATO’s eastern flank.” |
| So all eyes are on the Ukrainian border as Putin considers whether to move forward. The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | So all eyes are on the Ukrainian border as Putin considers whether to move forward. The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| The US has helped prepare for the diversion of natural gas supplies from around the world to Europe in the event that the flow from Russia is cut, in a bid to blunt Vladmir Putin’s most powerful economic weapon. | |
| As fears of an invasion of Ukraine have grown, US officials said on Tuesday that they have been negotiating with global suppliers, and they are now confident that Europe would not suffer from a sudden loss of energy for heating in the middle of winter. | |
| Russia has already restricted the flow of natural gas through the pipeline running through Ukraine from about about 100 million cubic metres a day to 50 MCM, US officials said. Washington now estimates that almost all of that can be replaced quickly if the pipeline is cut deliberately or as a result of conflict. | |
| “To ensure Europe is able to make it through the winter and spring we expect to be prepared to ensure alternative supplies covering a significant majority of the potential shortfall,” a senior official said. | |
| Read the Guardian’s full report: | |
| During the White House briefing yesterday, a reporter asked press secretary Jen Psaki whether Joe Biden believes a Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent. | |
| The reporter pointed to the Pentagon’s announcement that 8,500 US troops would be put on heightened alert to deploy if necessary as potential evidence of an escalating threat. | |
| “While we can’t get into the mind of President Putin, we are seeing the preparations that they’re making at the border,” Psaki replied. “We have been very clear and the president has been direct that military action by Russia could come at any time. He said that last week as well.” | |
| Another reporter tried to get a more concrete answer from Psaki, asking whether Biden is more or less concerned about an invasion of Ukraine after the events of this weekend. | |
| “He said last week that military action by Russia could come at any time. That remains his point of view,” Psaki replied. | |
| The manager of an exclusive New York City restaurant insisted it was focused on the safety of its guests, after the former Alaska governor and Republican vice-presidential pick Sarah Palin dined there despite not being vaccinated against Covid-19. | The manager of an exclusive New York City restaurant insisted it was focused on the safety of its guests, after the former Alaska governor and Republican vice-presidential pick Sarah Palin dined there despite not being vaccinated against Covid-19. |
| New York City laws require proof of vaccination for indoor dining. | New York City laws require proof of vaccination for indoor dining. |
| The city government said Palin should “follow the rules just like everyone else”. | The city government said Palin should “follow the rules just like everyone else”. |
| Palin tested positive repeatedly on Monday, delaying the start of her defamation trial against the New York Times in Manhattan federal court. | Palin tested positive repeatedly on Monday, delaying the start of her defamation trial against the New York Times in Manhattan federal court. |
| Palin, who also tested positive in March last year, has said she will not get vaccinated. | Palin, who also tested positive in March last year, has said she will not get vaccinated. |
| In December, she told a conservative audience in Phoenix: “It’ll be over my dead body that I’ll have to get a shot. I will not do that. I won’t do it, and they better not touch my kids either.” | In December, she told a conservative audience in Phoenix: “It’ll be over my dead body that I’ll have to get a shot. I will not do that. I won’t do it, and they better not touch my kids either.” |
| In a statement, Luca Guaitolini, manager of Elio’s, the restaurant on the Upper East Side, responded to the news Palin was seen eating there on Saturday. | In a statement, Luca Guaitolini, manager of Elio’s, the restaurant on the Upper East Side, responded to the news Palin was seen eating there on Saturday. |
| “We are taking this isolated incident – and unfortunate oversight – very seriously,” Guaitolini said. “Elio’s adheres to and believes in the vaccine mandate, and all it is doing to protect our staff, regulars and the dining public.” | “We are taking this isolated incident – and unfortunate oversight – very seriously,” Guaitolini said. “Elio’s adheres to and believes in the vaccine mandate, and all it is doing to protect our staff, regulars and the dining public.” |
| Guaitolini said he was not working on Saturday. He told the Times first-time diners were checked but Palin dined with an unidentified “regular”. | Guaitolini said he was not working on Saturday. He told the Times first-time diners were checked but Palin dined with an unidentified “regular”. |
| “She probably just walked in and strolled over” to the table, Guaitolini said. “We are trying to get to the bottom of this.” | “She probably just walked in and strolled over” to the table, Guaitolini said. “We are trying to get to the bottom of this.” |
| In case you missed it yesterday: Joe Biden got frustrated with a Fox News reporter who pressed him on how inflation may negatively impact Democrats’ midterm prospects. | In case you missed it yesterday: Joe Biden got frustrated with a Fox News reporter who pressed him on how inflation may negatively impact Democrats’ midterm prospects. |
| The president was hosting a meeting with his White House Competition Council to discuss his administration’s efforts to lower prices as US inflation increases at the highest rate seen in decades. | The president was hosting a meeting with his White House Competition Council to discuss his administration’s efforts to lower prices as US inflation increases at the highest rate seen in decades. |
| Reporters were present for the start of the event, and as they were escorted out, a few of them shouted questions at Biden about Ukraine, which the president mostly ignored. | Reporters were present for the start of the event, and as they were escorted out, a few of them shouted questions at Biden about Ukraine, which the president mostly ignored. |
| One reporter, Peter Doocy of Fox News, said, “Will you take questions on inflation then? Do you think inflation is a political liability ahead of the midterms?” | One reporter, Peter Doocy of Fox News, said, “Will you take questions on inflation then? Do you think inflation is a political liability ahead of the midterms?” |
| Biden, seemingly unaware that he could still be heard, then said to his advisers, “No, it’s a great asset. More inflation. What a stupid son of a bitch.” | Biden, seemingly unaware that he could still be heard, then said to his advisers, “No, it’s a great asset. More inflation. What a stupid son of a bitch.” |
| The remark certainly attracted some attention on social media, and Biden later called Doocy to apologize, per CNN: | The remark certainly attracted some attention on social media, and Biden later called Doocy to apologize, per CNN: |
| Russia’s aggressive buildup near Ukraine energised Nato into sending more forces to eastern Europe on Monday and led to a plunge on Russian markets, raising the stakes on the Kremlin’s bet that it could cajole, extort or force Ukraine into submission. | Russia’s aggressive buildup near Ukraine energised Nato into sending more forces to eastern Europe on Monday and led to a plunge on Russian markets, raising the stakes on the Kremlin’s bet that it could cajole, extort or force Ukraine into submission. |
| For Moscow it has become more difficult to pull back from its aggressive stance after US and Nato announcements that more troops would be deployed to the military alliance’s eastern flank. | For Moscow it has become more difficult to pull back from its aggressive stance after US and Nato announcements that more troops would be deployed to the military alliance’s eastern flank. |
| A unilateral drawdown now would leave the Kremlin a clear loser in the standoff, having provoked a strengthening of the very Nato presence that it had sought to banish from eastern Europe. | A unilateral drawdown now would leave the Kremlin a clear loser in the standoff, having provoked a strengthening of the very Nato presence that it had sought to banish from eastern Europe. |
| Moscow has blamed the west for rising tensions and the chaos on Russian financial markets. “We are observing statements published by the North Atlantic Alliance about an enlargement of the contingent and the deployment of forces and hardware to the eastern flank. All that leads to the further escalation of tensions,” claimed Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, on Monday. | Moscow has blamed the west for rising tensions and the chaos on Russian financial markets. “We are observing statements published by the North Atlantic Alliance about an enlargement of the contingent and the deployment of forces and hardware to the eastern flank. All that leads to the further escalation of tensions,” claimed Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, on Monday. |
| Vladimir Putin does still have the option to turn back. An about-face would be embarrassing and make the west less likely to listen to his warnings in the future. But he would face little domestic blowback from ordering a drawdown and could claim he had taken the first step to avoid a devastating conflict. | Vladimir Putin does still have the option to turn back. An about-face would be embarrassing and make the west less likely to listen to his warnings in the future. But he would face little domestic blowback from ordering a drawdown and could claim he had taken the first step to avoid a devastating conflict. |
| Shortly after his virtual meeting with European leaders, Joe Biden told reporters that the US and its allies are on the same page when it comes to Ukraine. | Shortly after his virtual meeting with European leaders, Joe Biden told reporters that the US and its allies are on the same page when it comes to Ukraine. |
| “I had a very, very, very good meeting – total unanimity with all the European leaders,” Biden said after the meeting, which lasted about an hour and 20 minutes. | “I had a very, very, very good meeting – total unanimity with all the European leaders,” Biden said after the meeting, which lasted about an hour and 20 minutes. |
| In London, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office echoed that sentiment, saying “the leaders agreed on the importance of international unity in the face of growing Russian hostility.” | In London, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office echoed that sentiment, saying “the leaders agreed on the importance of international unity in the face of growing Russian hostility.” |
| “The leaders agreed that, should a further Russian incursion into Ukraine happen, allies must enact swift retributive responses including an unprecedented package of sanctions,” Downing Street said. | “The leaders agreed that, should a further Russian incursion into Ukraine happen, allies must enact swift retributive responses including an unprecedented package of sanctions,” Downing Street said. |
| Read the Guardian’s full report: | Read the Guardian’s full report: |
| Greetings from Washington, live blog readers. | Greetings from Washington, live blog readers. |
| Joe Biden is preparing for potential conflict in Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin considers an invasion and builds up his troop presence along the border. | Joe Biden is preparing for potential conflict in Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin considers an invasion and builds up his troop presence along the border. |
| The department of defense spokesperson, John Kirby, said yesterday that the US has placed 8,500 troops on heightened alert to deploy if necessary. The White House is also urging Americans in Ukraine to consider leaving the country. | The department of defense spokesperson, John Kirby, said yesterday that the US has placed 8,500 troops on heightened alert to deploy if necessary. The White House is also urging Americans in Ukraine to consider leaving the country. |
| Meanwhile, Biden held a virtual meeting with some of his European counterparts yesterday to discuss “their continued concern about the Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders”. | Meanwhile, Biden held a virtual meeting with some of his European counterparts yesterday to discuss “their continued concern about the Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders”. |
| “The leaders underscored their shared desire for a diplomatic resolution to the current tensions and reviewed recent engagements with Russia in multiple formats,” the White House said in its readout of the meeting. | “The leaders underscored their shared desire for a diplomatic resolution to the current tensions and reviewed recent engagements with Russia in multiple formats,” the White House said in its readout of the meeting. |
| “The leaders also discussed their joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, including preparations to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia for such actions as well as to reinforce security on NATO’s eastern flank.” | “The leaders also discussed their joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, including preparations to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia for such actions as well as to reinforce security on NATO’s eastern flank.” |
| So all eyes are on the Ukrainian border as Putin considers whether to move forward. The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | So all eyes are on the Ukrainian border as Putin considers whether to move forward. The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |