Ukraine: Biden 'convinced' Putin has decided to invade as crisis dominates Munich agenda
US President Joe Biden has said he is “convinced” Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine, including an assault on the capital Kyiv, in his clearest warning yet over the Russian president's intentions.
After weeks of saying the US wasn’t sure if Putin had made the final decision to invade, the president said that assessment had changed, citing American intelligence.
“As of this moment I’m convinced he’s made the decision,” Biden said on Friday. “We have reason to believe that.” He reiterated that the assault could occur in the “coming days.”
His warning came as separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine ordered a full military mobilisation on Saturday amid intensified violence in the war-torn region and fears in the West that Russia might use the strife as a pretext for an invasion.
US Vice President Kamala Harris is due to speak on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference, where she is expected to warn Russia that it will face huge financial costs if it further invades Ukraine, while underscoring that an invasion will only draw European allies closer to the United States.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin -- which denies planning to invade Ukraine -- announced massive nuclear drills to flex its military muscle, and Putin pledged to protect Russia’s national interests against what it sees as encroaching Western threats.
The White House on Friday accused Russia of being responsible for recent cyberattacks targeting Ukraine's defence ministry and major banks.
Kamala Harris on Friday declared "our greatest strength is our unity” as the US Vice President met with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on the sidelines of the conference. The Baltic countries have requested the US increase its troop presence on the eastern edge of
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