Top Biden aide says Ukraine invasion could come 'any day'
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine 맥스카지노any day," launching a conflict that would come at an 맥스카지노enormous human cost."
The senior adviser to President Joe Biden offered another stark warning the day after U.S. officials confirmed that Russia has assembled at least 70% of the military firepower it likely intends to have in place by mid-month to give President Vladimir Putin the option of launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
맥스카지노If war breaks out, it will come at an enormous human cost to Ukraine, but we believe that based on our preparations and our response, it will come at a strategic cost to Russia as well,맥스카지노 Sullivan said.
Sullivan did not directly address reports that the White House has briefed lawmakers that a full Russian invasion could lead to the quick capture of Kyiv and potentially result in as many as 50,000 casualties as he made appearances on a trio of Sunday talk shows.
U.S. officials, who discussed internal assessments of the Russian buildup on the condition that they not be identified, sketched out a series of indicators suggesting that Putin intends to start an invasion in the coming weeks, although the size and scale are unclear. They stressed that a diplomatic solution appears to remain possible.
Among those military indicators: an exercise of Russia맥스카지노s strategic nuclear forces that usually is held each fall was rescheduled for mid-February to March. That coincides with what U.S. officials see as the most likely window for invasion.
The administration has stepped up warnings in recent days that Russia increasingly seems intent on further invading Ukrainian territory.
Last week, Biden administration officials said that intelligence findings showed that the Kremlin had worked up an elaborate plot to fabricate an attack by Ukrainian forces that Russia could use as a pretext to take military action against its neighbor.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that the scheme included production of a graphic propaganda video that would show staged explosions and use corpses and actors depicting grieving mourners.
맥스카지노It could happen as soon as tomorrow or it could take some weeks yet,맥스카지노 Sullivan said. He added that Putin 맥스카지노has put himself in a position with military deployments to be able to act aggressively against Ukraine at any time now."
Sullivan said that the administration held on to hope that the Russians would move to de-escalate the situation through diplomacy.
"The key thing is that the United States needs to be and is prepared for any of those contingencies and in lockstep with our allies and partners," Sullivan said. 맥스카지노We have reinforced and reassured our allies on the eastern flank."
Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, attended a classified briefing last week that administration officials gave to members of Congress. He was asked whether he came away from the briefing thinking it was certain that Russia would move on Ukraine.
맥스카지노I would say the conditions are there. It맥스카지노s more likely than not. I think the noose is being prepared. It맥스카지노s around Ukraine right now as we speak. These are dangerous times,맥스카지노 McCaul said.
Biden맥스카지노s ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said the administration was still seeking a diplomatic solution, but 맥스카지노at the same time, we know that the Russians continue to prepare, and we will be working to address the security issues.맥스카지노
Sen. John Barrasso, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Ukraine was the first part of Putin맥스카지노s plan to reassemble the Soviet Union. He worried about what signal that could send to U.S. adversaries.
맥스카지노He needs to choke on trying to swallow Ukraine because if it맥스카지노s easy pickings for him, my worry is that then China moves against Taiwan and Iran moves quickly to a nuclear weapon.맥스카지노
Meanwhile, elite U.S troops and equipment landed Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine following Biden맥스카지노s orders to deploy 1,700 soldiers there amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Hundreds more troops from the 82nd Airborne Division are expected to arrive at the Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport. A U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster plane brought a few dozen troops and vehicles.
Their commander is Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who on Aug. 30 was the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan.
맥스카지노Our national contribution here in Poland shows our solidarity with all of our allies here in Europe and, obviously, during this period of uncertainty we know that we are stronger together,맥스카지노 Donahue said at the airport.
Biden ordered additional U.S. troops deployed to Poland, Romania and Germany to demonstrate America맥스카지노s commitment to NATO맥스카지노s eastern flank amid the tensions between Russia and Ukraine. NATO맥스카지노s eastern member Poland borders both Russia and Ukraine. Romania borders Ukraine.
The division can rapidly deploy within 18 hours and conduct parachute assaults to secure key objectives. Based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the division맥스카지노s history goes back to 1917.
Biden is set to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday at the White House. Scholz has said that Moscow would pay a 맥스카지노high price맥스카지노 in the event of an attack, but his government맥스카지노s refusal to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, bolster its troop presence in eastern Europe or spell out which sanctions it would support against Russia has drawn criticism abroad and at home.
French President Emmanuel Macron was to arrive Monday in Moscow for talks with Putin, and in the days to come, Scholz will be there, too. Biden and Macron spoke by phone on Sunday, discussing 맥스카지노diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russia맥스카지노s continued military build-up on Ukraine맥스카지노s borders," according to the White House.
Sullivan expressed certainty that operation of the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline 맥스카지노will not move forward" if Russia further invades Ukraine. Construction of the pipeline is complete, but gas is not yet flowing.
맥스카지노While it맥스카지노s true that Germany has not sent arms to Ukraine, after the United States, they are the second largest donor to Ukraine in Europe," Sullivan said. "The great thing ... about having the kind of alliances we have with 30 NATO allies is that different allies are going to take different pieces of this.맥스카지노
Sullivan appeared on 맥스카지노Fox News Sunday,맥스카지노 NBC's "Meet the Press" and ABC's 맥스카지노This Week.맥스카지노 McCaul spoke on ABC, and Barrasso was on Fox. Thomas-Greenfield was on CNN맥스카지노s 맥스카지노State of the Union.맥스카지노