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Ukraine tensions: US sounds fresh alarm over Russia invasion fears Ukraine tensions: France in new bid to defuse crisis
(about 2 hours later)
This satellite image shows what appears to be additional armour and equipment deployed near Valuyki in RussiaThis satellite image shows what appears to be additional armour and equipment deployed near Valuyki in Russia
The US secretary of state has said the extension of Russian military drills in Belarus has made him more worried about an imminent invasion of Ukraine. France says Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed on the need to "prioritise a diplomatic solution" to the crisis over Ukraine and secure a ceasefire in the east of the country.
Antony Blinken said Moscow's decision to keep about 30,000 troops in Belarus, next to Ukraine, amid raised tension in eastern Ukraine, suggests this. In a phone call with President Emmanuel Macron, Mr Putin also agreed that foreign ministers from both countries would meet "in the coming days".
His warning came as unidentified US intelligence sources said Russian commanders have been ordered to invade. Western nations believe Russia is ready to invade Ukraine, which Moscow denies.
But Ukraine said talk of an imminent Russian invasion was "inappropriate". Meanwhile, Ukraine says talk of an imminent invasion is "inappropriate".
Its Defence Minister Alexei Reznikov said an attack "tomorrow or the day after tomorrow" was unlikely as no Russian "strike groups" had yet formed near the border. President Macron's call on Sunday was the latest effort to prevent military action by Russia, which has amassed tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine's borders.
Russia has denied it plans to invade its neighbour. A Belarusian statement blamed the "deterioration of the situation" in eastern Ukraine as one reason for extending the drills in Belarus that were due to end on Sunday. It came amid increased clashes between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.
Explosions have been continuing in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region this weekend, amid increased clashes between the Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed rebels. Hours later, the French presidency said a second phone call between Mr Macron and Mr Putin took place, following a conversation between Mr Macron and US President Joe Biden.
Mr Macron proposed a summit between Mr Biden and Mr Putin, the statement said, and both leaders had accepted "the principle" of such a meeting, to be held on the condition that Russia does not invade Ukraine.
Details would be discussed during a meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, on Thursday.
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Watch the moment Ukrainian officials run from apparent shelling in the eastern part of the countryWatch the moment Ukrainian officials run from apparent shelling in the eastern part of the country
Mr Blinken said the tensions in eastern Ukraine, as well as the extended drills and Russian troop build-up, indicated Russia was about to invade. In the first conversation with Mr Macron, Mr Putin blamed the Ukrainian military for the escalation of tensions, the Kremlin said. Ukraine has rejected this, saying Moscow is engaged in a provocation campaign aimed at creating a pretext for an intervention.
"Everything we are seeing suggests that this is dead serious, that we are on the brink of an invasion," he told CNN. However, the French presidency said both leaders agreed to resume talks through the Normandy Format, a group created to resolve the conflict in the Donbas that includes Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany.
"Until the tanks are actually rolling, and the planes are flying, we will use every opportunity and every minute we have to see if diplomacy can still dissuade President Putin from carrying this forward." Mr Macron's office also said "intense work" would be carried out to enable a meeting "in the next few hours" to try to secure a ceasefire in the Donbas.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Mr Putin's commitments to Mr Macron were a "welcome sign" he might still "engage in finding a diplomatic solution". But Mr Johnson called on Mr Putin to "step back from his current threats and withdraw troops from Ukraine's border".
ON THE GROUND: Criss-crossing Ukraine with President Zelensky
CONTEXT: Satellite images show Russian activity near Ukraine
BACKGROUND: Is Russia going to invade Ukraine?
Earlier, Russia announced the extension of military drills in Belarus, where 30,000 Russian troops are deployed, that were due to end on Sunday. A Belarusian statement blamed the "deterioration of the situation" in eastern Ukraine as one reason for extending the exercises.
In total, the US estimates Russia has mustered up to 190,000 troops around Ukraine, including separatist forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
US company Maxar released new satellite images which it said showed multiple new field deployments of armoured equipment and troops from Russian garrisons near the border with Ukraine, indicating increased military readiness.
Speaking on CNN, Secretary Blinken said "everything we are seeing suggests that this is dead serious" and that "we are on the brink of an invasion".
"Until the tanks are actually rolling, and the planes are flying, we will use every opportunity and every minute we have to see if diplomacy can still dissuade President Putin from carrying this forward," he added.
Temporary accommodation in Taganrog, Russia, for people evacuated from Donetsk
His comments came as unverified reports in the US media suggested Washington believed an attack could be launched imminently.His comments came as unverified reports in the US media suggested Washington believed an attack could be launched imminently.
CBS News reported the US had intelligence that Russian commanders on the ground had received orders to proceed with an invasion and were now making specific battle plans on how to attack.CBS News reported the US had intelligence that Russian commanders on the ground had received orders to proceed with an invasion and were now making specific battle plans on how to attack.
The report said an invasion would begin with a cyber-assault followed by a campaign of missile and airstrikes, before ground units attempted to take the capital Kyiv.The report said an invasion would begin with a cyber-assault followed by a campaign of missile and airstrikes, before ground units attempted to take the capital Kyiv.
And an unnamed intelligence official told CNN close to 75% of Russia's conventional forces were now poised at the Ukrainian border. The concentration of Russian forces within striking distance of Ukraine was highly unusual, the source said.And an unnamed intelligence official told CNN close to 75% of Russia's conventional forces were now poised at the Ukrainian border. The concentration of Russian forces within striking distance of Ukraine was highly unusual, the source said.
US company Maxar released new satellite images which it said showed multiple new field deployments of armoured equipment and troops from Russian garrisons near the border with Ukraine, indicating increased military readiness. But Ukraine's Defence Minister Alexei Reznikov said an attack "tomorrow or the day after tomorrow" was unlikely as no Russian "strike groups" had yet formed near the border.
EXPLAINER: What is a false flag attack? In other developments:
CONTEXT: Satellite images show Russian activity near Ukraine Rebels and government forces accused each other of violating a ceasefire dozens of time on Sunday, a day after two Ukrainian soldiers were killed
BACKGROUND: Is Russia going to invade Ukraine? Thousands of civilians, out of a population of several million, are being evacuated from the separatist territories into Russia while men of fighting age are being mobilised to fight
Amid the rising tensions, Moscow said a two-hour phone call between Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron ended in an agreement on the need for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in eastern Ukraine. The US embassy in Moscow warned Americans of potential attacks in public places in Russia, including along the border with Ukraine. A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson criticised the move
But Mr Putin blamed the Ukrainian military for the escalation of tensions in the Donbas and said Russian troops would eventually leave Belarus.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Mr Putin's commitments to Mr Macron were a "welcome sign" he might still "engage in finding a diplomatic solution".
But Mr Johnson called on the Russian leader to "to step back from his current threats and withdraw troops from Ukraine's border".
Hours later, the French presidency said a second, hour-long phone call between Mr Macron and Mr Putin took place, without giving details.
The focus of tensions in recent days has been on the swathe of eastern Ukraine that Russian-backed rebels seized in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine.
The rebels and government forces accused each other of violating a ceasefire dozens of time on Sunday. Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed on Saturday as international monitors reported that ceasefire violations had increased dramatically this week.
Thousands of civilians, out of a population of several million, are being evacuated from the separatist territories into Russia while men of fighting age are being mobilised to fight.
Temporary accommodation in Taganrog, Russia, for people evacuated from Donetsk
The fresh fighting in eastern Ukraine follows a build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine's borders. The US estimates Russia has mustered up to 190,000 troops around Ukraine, including separatist forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Mr Putin has been demanding assurances that Nato will not admit Ukraine, a former Soviet state with close ties to Russia, while the Western alliance denies it poses any threat to Russia.Mr Putin has been demanding assurances that Nato will not admit Ukraine, a former Soviet state with close ties to Russia, while the Western alliance denies it poses any threat to Russia.
There are fears that a Russian military intervention could start a war even bloodier than the conflict in eastern Ukraine which has cost at least 14,000 lives.There are fears that a Russian military intervention could start a war even bloodier than the conflict in eastern Ukraine which has cost at least 14,000 lives.
Many countries have urged their citizens to leave Ukraine immediately.
On Sunday the US embassy in Moscow warned Americans of potential attacks in public places in Russia, including along the border with Ukraine. A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson criticised the move.