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| Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin |
International Military - Recently, the situation between Russia and Ukraine has been heating up, because it was heard that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet. The meeting was held to seek a resolution to the problems currently being experienced by the two countries.
"I don't know what the president of the Russian Federation wants, so I proposed a meeting," Zelenskyy said at the Munich Security Conference, where he also met US Vice President Kamala Harris.
If Putin is willing to comply with his invitation, Zelenskyy said Russia could choose a location for the two peace talks. "Ukraine will only continue to follow the diplomatic path for a peaceful settlement," Zelenskyy . said
So far, there has been no immediate response from the Kremlin to the call. Zelenskyy's call came hours after separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine ordered full military mobilization on Saturday (19/2) and amid growing horror at warnings by Western leaders that Russia's invasion of Ukraine appeared to be approaching its time.
For months, the United States and many other European countries have accused Russia, which has moved some 150,000 troops near the Ukrainian border, of trying to create a 'pretext to attack' Ukraine. "They disengaged and are now ready to strike," US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Saturday during a visit to Lithuania.
On Friday evening (18/2) local time, US President Joe Biden said - based on the latest intelligence - that he was now "confident" Putin had decided to attack Ukraine, namely in the capital Kiev. "Until now, I believe he has made that (invasion) decision," Biden said. "We have reason to believe that." He confirmed that the attack could occur in "the coming days."
The US leader insisted that "it is not too late to defuse tensions and return to the negotiating table," but Biden warned that if an attack occurred, the Russian president would "slam the door on diplomacy."
A US defense official said more than 40 percent of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border were now in a position to strike and Moscow had begun a destabilizing campaign. The official said that the US had observed significant movement near the Ukrainian border since last Wednesday (16/2).
The United States estimates that Russia has more than 150,000 troops stationed near the Ukrainian border. "Forty to fifty percent are in offensive positions. They have occupied points of tactical positions in the last 48 hours," the official told reporters. Amid tensions, Russia's Ministry of Defense announced in a statement that Putin would directly supervise military exercises involving Russia's 'strategic forces' on Saturday (19/2). The exercise will involve launching Russian missiles.
"The planned strategic deterrence exercises ... in which ballistic and cruise missiles will be launched," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
It also said that the Russian Air Force, units from the southern military district, as well as the Northern and Black Sea Fleet will also participate in the exercise.