US says Russia could invade 'any day now'; Ukraine formally asks about troop buildup: What we know

 

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke Sunday about the potential of a Russian invasion of the eastern European country.

Biden reiterated during the 50-minute call that the U.S. would “respond swiftly and decisively” should Russian President Vladimir Putin send Russian forces into Ukraine, a White House statement said. The two also agreed they’d continue “pursuing diplomacy and deterrence in response to Russia’s military buildup.”

On Sunday, Ukraine’s top diplomat, Dmytro Kuleba, said Russia had given no response to a request Ukraine had filed Friday for Russia to explain its troop buildup on their shared border.

The Ukrainian government filed the formal request through the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, a forum for countries to discuss international security. Ukraine’s request came after the Baltic states filed a similar request to Belarus, which also did not respond.

“If Russia is serious when it talks about the indivisibility of security,” Kuleba wrote in a tweet, “it must fulfill its commitment to military transparency in order to de-escalate tensions and enhance security for all.”

Zelenskyy, who has warned that the Biden administration’s broadcasting of an imminent invasion is "provoking panic” around the world, asked Biden to visit Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, to show calm, Ukrainian officials told CNN. Biden is unlikely to make such a trip, White House aides have said.

Sullivan: Russia has capacity to invade Ukraine 'this week'

Biden's top national security aide warned again Sunday that the Russian military has the capacity to invade Ukraine "this week" under the pretext of a "false flag" operation portraying Ukrainians as the aggressors.

"The way they have built up their forces, the way they have maneuvered things in place, makes it a distinct possibility there will be major military action very soon," national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during an interview on CNN's "State of the Union."