President Biden called for a diplomatic solution to the Russia-Ukraine crisis in a White House speech today, saying that diplomacy and de-escalation are “the best way forward for all parties.” The President, however, warned that an invasion would be met with “overwhelming international condemnation.”
The remarks come as Russia announced that some of its troops would return to base after completing recent drills, but stressed that major military exercises would continue. The news was met with skepticism in Ukraine.
Biden cautioned that an invasion still “remains distinctly possible” and that the US has “not yet verified” that Russia has begun the withdrawal of some troops.
Key takeaways from Biden's speech on the Ukraine-Russia crisis
From CNN's Maegan Vazquez and Kaitlan Collins
President Biden addressed the Ukraine-Russia crisis during a speech from the White House on Tuesday and expressed optimism about diplomatic efforts while also warning Russia of consequences if an invasion were to occur.
Here are some key takeaways from his remarks:
An appeal for diplomacy: Biden addressed Russian citizens directly citizens and said the US and its allies are not a threat to them and that there’s “plenty” of room for diplomacy with Russia to avoid a conflict in Europe.
The President told Russians he did not believe they wanted “a bloody destructive war against Ukraine, a country and the people with whom you share such deep ties of family history and culture.”
He harkened back to World War II, pointing out that Americans and Russians had “fought and sacrificed side by side in the worst war in history.”
Biden sounded optimistic that diplomacy would resolve the crisis after Russia publicly proposed to continue talks, saying, “We should give the diplomacy every chance to succeed and I believe there are real ways to address our respective security concerns.”
The President said the US is “proposing new arms control measures, new transparency measures (and) new strategic stability measures,” adding that “these measures apply to all parties — NATO and Russia alike.”
A warning for Russia if an invasion occurs: Biden also cautioned that if Russia invades Ukraine in the coming days or weeks “it will be met with overwhelming international condemnation” and severe consequences.
“The human cost for Ukraine will be immense. And the strategic cost for Russia will also be immense,” the President warned, “If Russia attacks Ukraine, it will be met with overwhelming international condemnation. The world will not forget that Russia chose needless death and destruction.”
Biden said that though the US is “not seeking direct confrontation with Russia,” he’s been clear “that if Russia targets Americans in Ukraine, we will respond forcefully.”
Possible impacts in the US if invasion occurs: He also addressed the consequences Americans will face if Russia moves into Ukraine, saying that “the American people understand that defending democracy and liberty is never without cost.”
The US is prepared to respond to higher energy prices and the potential for cyberattacks, Biden said.
“I will not pretend this will be painless,” Biden noted.
Russia’s troop movements: Biden also cautioned that the US has not yet verified that Russia has begun the withdrawal of some troops following the completion of recent military drills.
“We have not yet verified the Russian military units are returning to their home bases. Indeed, our analysts indicate that they remain very much in a threatening position,” Biden said.
The President also underscored that “Russia has more than 150,000 troops circling Ukraine and Belarus and along Ukraine’s border, and invasion remains distinctly possible.”
That amassing of troops has continued to raise fears among Western and Ukrainian intelligence officials that an invasion could be imminent.
Russia announced earlier Tuesday that some of its troops would return to base after completing recent drills, but stressed that major military exercises would continue.
Websites for Oschadbank and Privatbank have resumed online operations, according to the State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection of Ukraine.
“The websites of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine were also attacked. As of 19:30, the work of banking web resources has been resumed. A working group of experts from the national cybersecurity is taking all necessary measures to localize and resist the cyberattack,” the statement continued.
The websites of Ukraine’s defense ministry and armed forces were also impacted by a cyberattack on Tuesday, according to Ukrainian government agencies’ statements.
It remains unclear who was responsible for the incident as DDoS attacks can be difficult to trace to their source. Hackers are adept at spoofing their locations to make it appear as though they are in one country, while in reality they are located elsewhere.
The incident comes as Russia has massed an estimated 150,000 troops close to Ukraine’s border, according to US President Biden, and as US officials warn that a fresh Russian invasion could come at any time. Russia has denied it is planning to invade Ukraine.
A separate cyberattack hit Ukrainian government websites last month. Ukrainian officials suggested Russian and Belarusian involvement, but investigators have not formally blamed those countries for the cyberattack.
CNN’s Sean Lyngaas and Tim Lister contributed reporting to this post.
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White House: Biden "felt it was important to be very clear and direct with the American people" in remarks
From CNN's DJ Judd, John Harwood and Phil Mattingly
(Alex Wong/Getty Images)
White House press secretary Jen Psaki told CNN’s Phil Mattingly Tuesday the White House doesn’t have a new assessment on if and when Russia might invade Ukraine.
However, a source tells CNN the White House was waiting to see if the Tuesday meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz changed anything fundamentally. Once that meeting occurred, and it didn’t, the source says, the White House decided they needed to deliver President Biden’s multiple-audience message.
“We don’t have a new assessment,” Psaki told Mattingly. “As I think you heard the President say it’s, there’s a distinct possibility, but we don’t have a new assessment of a decision being made either.”
In remarks from the White House East Room earlier Tuesday, Biden told reporters that the United States “have not yet verified” that Russia has begun the withdrawal of some troops following the completion of recent drills near Ukraine, warning “invasion remains distinctly possible.”
The President, Psaki said, “felt it was important to be very clear and direct with the American people about what the impact could be on them, what the consequences would be, what our values are, and why it is important to stand by, not just the territorial integrity and sovereignty of a country, but also stand among our allies and partners around the world,” in his remarks today.
“In terms of why today, it wasn’t based on, obviously, as you saw, a desire to put out new policy or based on something new internally,” she added. “It was just our, the President’s interest and feeling it was time to speak directly to the American people about all of those issues.”
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Biden said if Russia invades Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 "will not happen." Here's why it's significant.
Form CNN's Ivana Kottasová and Charles Riley
President Biden said today that while he wants diplomacy to prevail in the Ukraine-Russia crisis, the US is prepared to impose serious sanctions against Russia if it decides to invade Ukraine.
This includes not allowing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to “happen.”
What does a $11 billion undersea pipeline between Russia and Germany have to do with Ukraine? And why is it such a big deal? The answer has everything to do with how Europe gets its energy.
The 750-mile pipeline was completed in September but has not yet received final certification from German regulators. When up and running, it would boost deliveries of gas directly from Russia to Germany.
The United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and several EU countries have opposed the pipeline since it was announced in 2015, warning the project would increase Moscow’s influence in Europe.
Nord Stream 2 could deliver 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year. That’s more than 50% of Germany’s annual consumption and could be worth as much as $15 billion to Gazprom, the Russian state owned company that controls the pipeline, based on its average export price in 2021.
Energy is a major political issue in central and eastern Europe, where gas supplies from Russia play an essential role in power generation and home heating. Natural gas prices are already near record highs in Europe, and a conflict in Ukraine could bring more pain to consumers.
As Russia’s biggest gas customer, Germany has tried to keep Nord Stream 2 out of global politics. But the issue has become unavoidable after Russia amassed over 100,000 troops near its border with Ukraine.
There’s lots of history here.
Disputes over energy prices have plagued the relationship between Russia and Ukraine ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, with Russia cutting supplies of gas to its neighbor on a number of occasions.
Russia has in recent months denied using energy to put pressure on Europe. But the International Energy Agency has blamed Moscow for contributing to the current European gas crisis by supplying less than it could.
Nord Stream 2 could help change the balance of power in Europe when it comes to energy. At the moment, Russia needs Ukraine, because a large amount of the gas it sells to Europe flows to the rest of the continent through the country.
If Putin further escalates, then "Russia must be made to pay a severe price," US Senate leaders say
From CNN's Ali Zaslav and Ted Barrett
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer just released a new bipartisan statement alongside Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnelland other Senate leaders on Russia, writing that if Russian President Vladimir Putin were to “further escalate his ongoing assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty, Russia must be made to pay a severe price.”
The proposed Republican sanctions package, introduced as the Never Yielding Europe’s Territory (NYET) Act, would “mandate sanctions” on the Nord Stream 2 project “without a waiver should Russia invade,” a release about the Act said.
The bill would sanction Putin’s “cronies, enablers and major banks,” and it would provide $500 million in Foreign Military Financing for Ukraine. Out of the $500 million, $250 million of that would be “emergency funding,” and $100 million would be for “emergency lethal assistance for critical capabilities like air defense, anti-armor and anti-ship capabilities.”
CNN’s Lauren Fox and Ellie Kaufman contributed reporting to this post.
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Biden underscored the United States' commitment to NATO's Article 5. Here's what it means.
Article 5 has been a key point of discussion among world leaders amid tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
Article 5 of the treaty is the principle of collective defense. It guarantees that the resources of the whole alliance can be used to protect any single member nation. This is crucial for many of the smaller countries who would be defenseless without its allies. Iceland, for example, has no standing army.
Since the US is the largest and most powerful North Atlantic Treaty Organization member, any state in the alliance is effectively under US protection.
According to the NATO website, this is what Article 5 lays out:
In reality, the first and only time Article 5 has been invoked was in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US; as a result, NATO allies joined the invasion of Afghanistan.
However, NATO has taken action on other occasions too.
It put collective defense measures in place in 1991 when it deployed Patriot missiles during the Gulf War, in 2003 during the crisis in Iraq, and in 2012 in response to the situation in Syria, also with Patriot missiles.
Dow jumps more than 400 points after Russia says it's withdrawing some troops
From CNN's Matt Egan
Wall Street’s Russia-Ukraine fears eased this morning after Russia announced it is withdrawing some troops following the completion of recent drills near Ukraine.
The Dow jumped 422 points, or 1.2%. The S&P 500 surged 1.5% and the Nasdaq was 2.5% higher.
Investors have been concerned that an armed Russian conflict with Ukraine could badly damage the global economy. A war could send prices surging in regions that have already been struggling with rapidly rising inflation, especially as energy supplies could be disrupted in the middle of a conflict. Russia is a major exporter of oil and particularly natural gas.
US oil futures tumbled 3.7% to just under $92 a barrel. That’s despite the fact that Russia stressed today that major military exercises would continue.
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Ukrainian president will travel to the city of Mariupol tomorrow
From CNN's From Olga Pavlova
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to the city of Mariupol on Wednesday, his office tells CNN.
Mariupol is located in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Zelensky is expected to be there late in the afternoon.
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Biden warns of potential US effects should Russia invade Ukraine
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
(Alex Brandon/AP)
President Biden warned a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine would have ramifications inside the United States.
He said Republicans and Democrats were united in their desire to defend “our most basic, most bipartisan, most American principles.”
But he added that it could lead to higher energy prices.
“I will not pretend this will be painless,” he said, noting the US was coordinating with energy producers “to provide relief at the gas pump.”
He said the US was prepared to respond to other attempts at inflicting pain on Americans, including in cyberspace.
“We’re not seeking direct confrontation with Russia, though I’ve been clear that if Russia targets Americans in Ukraine, we will respond forcefully. If Russia attacks the United States or allies through asymmetric means, like disruptive cyberattacks against our companies or critical infrastructure, we’re prepared to respond,” Biden said.
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Biden to Russian citizens: "You are not our enemy"
From CNN's Jason Kurtz
Amid the ongoing tensions at the Ukraine-Russia border, President Biden made it clear that the United States is not seeking to add to the volatility.
“Let me be equally clear about what we are not doing: The United States and NATO are not a threat to Russia,” said Biden, speaking from the White House.
Noting that Russia and the United States teamed up in World War II — which he called “a war of necessity” — Biden drew a distinction between the current state of affairs.
“If Russia attacks Ukraine, it will be a war of choice, or a war without cause or reason. I say these things not to provoke, but to speak the truth, because the truth matters. Accountability matters,” Biden said.
“If Russia does invade in the days and weeks ahead, the human cost for Ukraine will be immense,” he added.
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Biden: If Russia invades Ukraine it will be met with "overwhelming international condemnation"
From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury
(Alex Brandon/AP)
President Biden warned that if Russia invades Ukraine in the coming days or weeks “it will be met with overwhelming international condemnation.”
“Invading Ukraine will prove to be a self-inflicted wound. The United States and our allies and partners will respond decisively. The West is united and galvanized. Today, our NATO allies and the alliances unified and determined as it’s ever been,” Biden continued.
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Biden says US has "not verified" reports Russia has withdrawn troops from near Ukraine
From CNN's DJ Judd
President Biden told reporters at the White House Tuesday that the United States has “not yet verified” that Russia has begun the withdrawal some troops following the completion of recent drills near Ukraine, warning “invasion remains distinctly possible.”
The Russian defense ministry said troops from its Southern and Western military districts — parts of which are next door to Ukraine — had begun to return to their home stations, though the announcement did not say precisely where those troops were permanently based, where they had been exercising, or how many of them were withdrawing.
In his remarks Tuesday, the President reiterated that Americans in the region should leave “before it’s too late to leave safely,” pointing to the decision to relocate the US Embassy in Kyiv to the western city of Lviv.
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Biden told Putin US is willing to pursue diplomacy to negotiate "written understandings" with Russia
From CNN's Mike Hayes and Kevin Liptak
(Alex Brandon/AP)
President Biden said there is “plenty of room for diplomacy” with Russia that could avoid a conflict in Europe.
Speaking from the White House, Biden laid out areas where Washington and Moscow can continue talking as Russia continues to mass troops along their border with Ukraine.
“That’s the best way forward for all parties, in our view. We’ll continue our diplomatic efforts in close consultation with our allies and our partners,” Biden said in the East Room.
“As long as there is hope of diplomatic resolution that prevents the use of force and avoids incredible human suffering that would follow, we will pursue it,” Biden said.
Biden’s remarks come amid mixed signals from Russia. While its leaders have said diplomacy is still possible, troops continue to build around three sides of Ukraine.
The President said that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin this weekend and made it clear that the US is willing to “keep pursuing high-level diplomacy” to negotiate “written understandings” with Russia.
“Yesterday, the Russian government publicly proposed to continue the diplomacy. I agree,” Biden said in the East Room.
He added, “We should give the diplomacy every chance to succeed.”
Biden said that he believes that there are ways “to address our respective security concerns.”
The President noted that the US “will not sacrifice basic principles, though.”
“We’re willing to make practical, result-oriented steps that can advance our common security,” he said. “We will not sacrifice basic principles, though. Nations have a right to sovereignty and territorial integrity. They have the freedom to set their own course and choose with whom they will associate. But that still leaves plenty of room for diplomacy and for de-escalation.”
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Biden: We are "prepared no matter what happens" in Ukraine
From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury
President Biden said that the US is “prepared no matter what happens,” during his remarks from the White House on the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that Biden would not be announcing “new policy” in his remarks.
More background: The speech comes as Russia has amassed more than 130,000 troops near Ukraine’s border in recent weeks, according to US estimates, raising fears from Western and Ukrainian intelligence officials that an invasion could be imminent.
Russia announced earlier Tuesday that some of its troops would return to base after completing recent drills, but stressed that major military exercises would continue.
The Russian defense ministry said troops from its Southern and Western military districts — parts of which are next door to Ukraine — had begun to return to their home stations, though the announcement did not say precisely where those troops were permanently based, where they had been exercising, or how many of them were withdrawing.
US ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said Tuesday the US was “monitoring the situation” after the Kremlin’s troop announcement, but added that the US “will have to verify” any claims of a potential move towards de-escalation by Russia.
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Senate Republicans introduce their own Russia sanctions package after stalled bipartisan negotiations
From CNN's Lauren Fox and Ellie Kaufman
Republican US senators introduced their own sanctions package to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine and to show support and provide assistance to Ukraine and Europe in the event of a Russian invasion, leading to questions about whether bipartisan negotiations over sanctions have ended on Capitol Hill.
The Republican-led sanctions package comes after weeks of failed negotiations between bipartisan senators. Senators could not agree on whether to include sanctions that deal with the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The Republican proposal could be a negotiating tactic to get Democrats to re-open discussions on a bipartisan sanctions package.
But in order to make any kind of congressional sanctions package impactful, senators need to move quickly. Russia has amassed more than 130,000 troops on Ukraine’s border and Putin continues to add to his “menu of options” militarily, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said during a press briefing on Monday.
What the legislation would do: The proposed Republican sanctions package, introduced as the Never Yielding Europe’s Territory (NYET) Act, would “mandate sanctions” on the Nord Stream 2 project “without a waiver should Russia invade,” a release about the Act said.
The bill would sanction Putin’s “cronies, enablers and major banks,” and it would provide $500 million in foreign military financing for Ukraine. Out of the $500 million, $250 of that would be “emergency funding,” and $100 million would be for “emergency lethal assistance for critical capabilities like air defense, anti-armor and anti-ship capabilities.”
The proposed funding in this bill would be in addition to funding the US government has already given to Ukraine. In 2021, the US delivered approximately $450 million in security assistance to Ukraine, Kirby said in December. Since 2014, when Russia invaded and occupied the Crimean peninsula, the US has provided more than $2.5 billion in aid to Ukraine.
Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he was disappointed senators had not come to a bipartisan agreement on a sanctions package.
“I wish we had,” come up with a bipartisan sanctions package, Kaine said, but he cautioned that sanctions can sometimes make it harder for leaders to take a “diplomatic offramp because they don’t want to look like oh we had to back down because of the sanctions.”
On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the US government “is offering a sovereign loan guarantee to Ukraine of up to $1 billion to support its economic reform agenda and continued engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).”
The package would also double US “funding for US military exercises in Europe,” and it would create a new State Department Foreign Military Financing program for Eastern Europe to “help European allies strengthen their own defensive capabilities,” the release said.
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Ukraine requests international assistance from NATO
Ukraine is preparing for “large-scale emergencies of various nature that can affect its civilian population,” according to a statement put out by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) received a request from Ukraine on Feb. 15 for international assistance, the statement read.
The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) is NATO’s principal civil emergency response mechanism in the Euro-Atlantic area.
Ukraine provided a detailed of items it deemed critical including cars, trucks, cranes, bulldozers, machines for radiation and chemical reconnaissance, equipment to search for explosive objects, thermal imagine equipment, more than 50 self-sustaining field camps to accommodate 250-300 people, equipment and personal protection for EOD attacks, communications equipment, medical supplies, and more.
Senior EU diplomat: Diplomatic path is "priority number one" regarding Ukraine
From CNN's James Frater in Brussels
The focus of the European Union on the situation in Ukraine is all on “the diplomatic track,” a senior EU diplomat told journalists on Tuesday.
When asked if the Ukraine security situation would overshadow the EU-African Union summit taking place on Thursday in Brussels, the senior EU diplomat said, “It’s quite clear that priority number one when it comes to Ukraine is the diplomatic track.”
Reiterating the EU’s position, the senior diplomat said that, “there will be massive consequences with severe costs,” if there were a change to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also said he hoped there would be no need for a sideline gathering of the EU leaders on Ukraine, “because that would be the best possible situation.”
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Top US general spoke to Ukrainian counterpart for the second time this week
From CNN's Oren Liebermann
The top US general spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart for the second time this week. It also marks the seventh time the two have spoken in a little over a month.
Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shared “perspectives and assessments” of the situation around Ukraine with Lt. Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, according to a readout of the call. Milley again highlighted “unwavering” support for Ukrainian sovereignty.
The two spoke Monday, as well as twice last week, and have been in frequent communication as the number of Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders has grown.
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Blinken reiterates "US commitment to continue to pursue" diplomacy in call with Lavrov
From CNN's Jennifer Hansler
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the US’s “commitment to continue to pursue a diplomatic solution to the crisis Moscow has precipitated” during a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, according to a readout.
Blinken said the US looks forward to receiving Moscow’s formal response to its written document.
According to the US State Department readout, Blinken noted that Lavrov said the response would be transmitted in the coming days.
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Ukrainian banks resume web operations following DDoS cyberattack
From CNN's Sean Lyngaas and Tim Lister
Local residents wait outside a Privatbank on February 15, in Melitopol, Ukraine.
(Pierre Crom/Getty Images)
An update from a Ukrainian government agency said two banking websites subjected to an apparent cyberattack Tuesday are now coming back online.
In a statement, the State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection of Ukraine said there was “a powerful DDoS attack on a number of information resources of Ukraine,” adding that “in particular, this caused interruptions in the work of web services of Privatbank and Oschadbank.”
The statement said the websites of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine were also attacked.
CNN teams in Ukraine report the websites for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces are still down. The Ministry of Defense earlier said it was responding to what appeared to be a DDoS attack. CNN reported earlier that It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the cyberattack.
Internet watchdog Netblocks said its metrics “confirm the loss of service to multiple banking and online platforms in Ukraine, in a manner consistent with a denial of service attack.”
More context: DDoS attacks are relatively cheap and easy to carry out. While they can be a nuisance, they do not necessarily require sophistication.
A separate cyberattack hit Ukrainian government websites last month. Ukrainian officials suggested Russian and Belarusian involvement, but investigators have not formally blamed those countries for the cyberattack.
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Biden will not be announcing "new policy" during today's remarks on Russia and Ukraine, White House says
From CNN's DJ Judd and Betsy Klein
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Biden’s upcoming remarks “will provide an update on events related to Ukraine, not announce new policy.”
Earlier, the White House said Biden will “give brief remarks” on the Ukraine-Russia situation.
“He will reiterate that the United States remains open to high-level diplomacy in close coordination with our Allies, building on the multiple diplomatic off-ramps we and our Allies and partners have offered Russia in recent months. The United States continues to believe diplomacy and de-escalation are the best path forward, but is prepared for every scenario,” according to the White House.
See Psaki’s tweet:
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France calls Russia’s announced withdrawal of some troops following exercises around Ukraine "encouraging"
From CNN’s Joseph Ataman in Paris
The Russian announcement that some of its troops would return to base after completing recent drills around Ukraine is “encouraging” and in line with what Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed with French President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting in Moscow on Feb. 7, an Élysée source told journalists Tuesday following a call between Macron and US President Joe Biden.
In a call that lasted a little over an hour on Tuesday, both Biden and Macron agreed on the need to verify any Russian military withdrawal following drills, the source said.
The purpose of the call between the US and French presidents was to evaluate Russian announcements on the partial troop withdrawal, as well as to ensure the same terms of reference regarding dissuasion toward Russia, an exit from the crisis and working with the US toward a new security order in Europe.
“Given the massive scale of the military deployment, many things are possible, so there is a need for great vigilance,” the source said, adding, “Everything is fragile.”
The source said that the French and Russian presidents had agreed on the withdrawal of forces involved in the military exercises and the return of a “normal deployment” of Russian forces in these areas following the completion of the exercises.
“The Russian military deployment remains very impressive and, for trust and calm to return, must be more clearly reduced,” the source said. “It’s not yet time to say that we’re out of the crisis.”
Macron will also hold a call with China’s Xi Jinping on Wednesday, the source said.
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Democrats are still waiting to hear back from GOP on Russia sanctions offer
From CNN's Lauren Fox
Democrats are still waiting to hear back from Republicans on their latest Russia sanctions offer after sending the Republicans a new proposal last night. A source familiar with the talks warns that there isn’t much time left to cut a deal given the movements on the ground on the Ukraine border.
The source said the GOP’s next move will signal how serious they are about actually getting a bipartisan deal, which both sides have called for publicly.
A reminder that many members — including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio — say that the President has the authority he needs to issue strong sanctions without Congress. However, the congressional effort was seen as a way to send a united message to the world and to Putin that Congress is squarely unified against Russian aggression.
If a sanctions package isn’t possible, lawmakers have warned that they would at least like to issue a resolution of opposition to Putin’s actions. That, however, is more of a political move than one that carries any real weight.
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President Biden to address Ukraine situation today
From CNN's From Kaitlan Collins
A woman walks underneath a military plane set as a monument to a former military base at a town on the outskirts of the Three Sisters border crossing between, Ukraine, Russia and Belarus on February 14, in Senkivka, Ukraine.
(Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
President Biden will provide a status update on the ongoing situation in Ukraine at 3:30 p.m. ET today, according to the White House.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also spoke on the phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov this morning, according to a senior State Department official.
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Russia-Ukraine conflict could cause inflation to hit 10% in America, new analysis finds
From CNN's Matt Egan
The cost of living is already very high in America — and the Russia-Ukraine crisis could make it even worse.
Oil prices have jumped well above $90 a barrel in recent weeks as the risk of a Russian invasion of Ukraine has increased.
If the Russia-Ukraine crisis drives oil to about $110 a barrel, inflation in the United States would exceed 10% on a year-over-year basis, according to a new analysis by consulting firm RSM shared exclusively with CNN.
“We’re talking about a real short-term shock,” said Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM.
Russia is the world’s second-largest producer of both oil and natural gas and global oil supplies. And this crisis comes at a time when the world energy market is already struggling to keep up with demand. JPMorgan has warned that any disruption to Russia’s oil flows would “easily” send oil to $120 a barrel.
Some more context: US oil prices hit $95 a barrel on Monday for the first time since 2014. But crude reversed course on Tuesday, sinking below $92 a barrel on hopes of a de-escalation between Russia and Ukraine.
Brusuelas estimates that a roughly 20% increase in oil prices to around $110 would lift consumer prices by 2.8 percentage points over the course of the following 12 months, raising inflation above the 10% threshold. That would run counter to current expectations for inflation to gradually cool off from elevated levels.
However, the impact to the broader economy could be less dramatic.
Brusuelas estimates a jump to $110 oil would shave slightly less than one percentage point from the US gross domestic product over the next year.
Still, the inflation spike would likely put renewed pressure on the Federal Reserve to step up its fight to get prices under control by raising interest rates significantly.
“This would cause the Federal Reserve to quicken the pace of its policy normalization. You would hear more about a 50-basis point increase,” Brusuelas said, referring to recent calls for the Fed to raise interest rates by a half a percentage point in a single meeting for the first time since 2000.
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Russia says it’s moving some troops to their bases — but what does that mean?
Analysis from CNN's Nathan Hodge
Belarusian multiple launch rocket systems are seen during military exercises held by the armed forces of Russia and Belarus, in the Gomel region of Belarus, on February 15.
(Ramil Nasibulin/BelTA/Reuters)
Russia announced Tuesday that some troops will be moving back to their home bases after completing exercises, a day after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Russian President Vladimir Putin that diplomacy still had a “chance” – and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told CNN that Putin is “willing to negotiate.”
How significant is this development?
Let’s start with what we know: The statement given by Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, the Russian Ministry of Defense spokesperson, was very short on specifics. Troops of Russia’s Southern and Western Military Districts, he said, had begun loading up their gear to return to their bases, but gave few specifics about where those units had been exercising, what their home stations are, or how many troops in total were heading home.
What’s more, we know from Ministry of Defense news releases that exercises in Belarus involve a significant number of troops from around the Russian Federation, including units based in Russia’s Eastern Military District – several time zones east of European Russia, a massive region bounded at its eastern edge by the Pacific Ocean.
Remember that Russia is a massive country spanning 11 time zones. Its military divides the county into five administrative territories: the Western, Southern, Central and Eastern Districts and the Northern Fleet. You can see the all on the map here.
Troops leaving exercises in Crimea – annexed by Russia in 2014 – were technically exercising inside Russia’s Southern Military District. Troops of the Southern Military District could potentially be returning to bases in the north Caucasus or Rostov oblast.
Tuesday’s statements, then, gives us very little official clue about how significant this move is: It could easily be a rotation – with fresh troops falling in – or a gradual drawdown after exercises. And Konashenkov made it clear that Russia’s current exercises at sea have a fairly global sweep, taking place in “operationally important areas of the world’s oceans” and in the waters adjacent to the territory of Russia.
There are things to watch out for in the coming days. Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko are set to meet this week, and we may get some hint on when the exercises in Belarus will conclude – and when Russian soldiers there will go home.
Asked about whether a decision on the withdrawal of Russian troops from Belarus would be made during that meeting, Kremlin spokesperson Peskov said: “Let’s not jump ahead. Let’s wait for the meeting.”
In the meantime, some Western officials were skeptical of the Russian troop announcement and said there had been no proof that a de-escalation of the crisis is on the cards.
“The signs coming from Moscow about willingness to continue to engage in diplomatic efforts … gives some reason for cautious optimism. But we will, of course, follow very closely what’s happening on the ground and whether this is reflected in some real de- escalation of the Russian military build-up in around Ukraine,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Tuesday.
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Ukrainian defense ministry and bank hit by possible cyberattack
From CNN's Sean Lyngaas and Tim Lister
An apparent cyberattack hit the website of Ukraine’s defense ministry and one of the country’s largest commercial banks on Tuesday, according to Ukrainian government agencies’ statements.
The bank has been under a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, which floods a website with phony traffic to disrupt access to it, Ukraine’s Centre for Strategic Communications said in a statement.
The Ministry of Defense also said it was responding to what appeared to be a DDoS attack.
It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the cyberattack. It comes as Russia has massed over 100,000 troops near Ukraine’s border.
Some more context: DDoS attacks are relatively cheap and easy to carry out. While they can be a nuisance, they do not necessarily require sophistication.
A separate cyberattack hit Ukrainian government websites last month. Ukrainian officials suggested Russian and Belarusian involvement, but investigators have not formally blamed those countries for the cyberattack.
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US senators remain skeptical of Russia's claims of moving some troops back to bases
From CNN's Ali Zaslav and Ellie Kaufman
Senators on the Armed Services Committee remain skeptical of reports that Russia had started returning some troops to bases after the completion of military exercises in the southern and western military districts.
“I think it’s awesome, but again you can’t trust Putin,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, told reporters outside of a morning Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.
“Everything we’ve learned so far is that this will be Mr. Putin’s decision. You don’t know whether he’s allowing us to see a small retreat while at the same time making other plans or if he’s trying to send a message that he’s interested in negotiating,” added Sen. Mike Rounds, who also sits on the committee. “We simply don’t know. What we do know is that he’s amassed a huge army, that he’s made it very clear that he wants concessions or he intends to invade.”
The South Dakota Republican continued: “What we do know is that we have to be in a position to respond either way.”
Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, echoed those sentiments and said he thinks it’s “very serious” and “the situation is at a critical point.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, however, took it as a positive sign and said it signaled that “deterrence seems to be working.”
“Vladimir Putin is getting the message,” he said.
But the Connecticut Democrat argued that “there’s no reason to let up at this point on a strategy that seems to be having results.”
As CNN’s Lauren Fox reported, talks of a sanctions package in Congress have hit a snag, and it is more likely the Senate could pass a more generic resolution admonishing a potential Russian invasion.
Hawley argued the chamber passing such a resolution “doesn’t really do any good” and blasted the Biden administration and Democrats for not being tough enough on Russia.
Tuberville added that he believed sanctions should have been placed on Russia “months ago,” but the situation now remains the same.
Bipartisan senators say they’re still trying to hash out a sanctions package, but preemptive sanctions remain one of the points of contention.
“I think that there, our concerns are that if you put sanctions too early that you just might harden his position, and then there are people with the other view that we shouldn’t put sanctions now,” Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) said. “My view is to possibly be cautious about it, but to make it very clear that we shouldn’t pursue anything aggressive along the lines of what we have said is not acceptable, then we will bring sanctions.”
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Macron calls on Putin to not recognize independence of Ukrainian regions, according to Élysée Palace
From CNN’s Joseph Ataman in Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin “not to recognize the independence” of the breakaway Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the Élysée Palace told journalists on Tuesday.
“We remain vigilant and ask [Putin] not to follow up on the Duma’s request,” an Élysée spokesperson said.
The State Duma, Russia’s lower house, passed a bill on Tuesday asking Putin to consider recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk as sovereign and independent.
“The Russian president said that it was a parliamentary initiative that he hasn’t approved,” the spokesperson added.
Pressed on the matter by reporters on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov gave a noncommittal response, adding that Russia has “repeatedly declared that it remains committed to the Minsk package of measures, and that Russia is in favor of the implementation of the entire Minsk plan as soon as possible.”
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Putin on whether Russia wants war: "Of course not"
From CNN's Anna Chernova in Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after several hours of one-on-one talks in the Kremlin on February 15 in Moscow, Russia.
(Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance/Getty Images)
Despite military buildup at the Ukraine border, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia does not want war.
Asked in a joint press conference in Moscow Tuesday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz if he would rule out a war in Europe, Putin said, “Do we want it or not? Of course not.”
Putin added:“That’s exactly why we put forward proposals on a negotiating process that should result in an agreement ensuring equal security for all, including our country.”
The Russian defense ministry said troops from its Southern and Western military districts — parts of which are next door to Ukraine — had begun to return to their home stations, though the announcement did not say precisely where those troops were permanently based, where they had been exercising, or how many of them were withdrawing.
The announcement was met with skepticism by the Ukrainian foreign minister, who said he would believe it when he saw it.
Russia has amassed more than 130,000 troops near Ukraine’s border in recent weeks, according to US estimates, raising fears from Western and Ukrainian intelligence officials that an invasion could be imminent.
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US secretary of state spoke with Russian counterpart, according to official
From CNN's Kylie Atwood
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on the phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday morning, according to a senior State Department official. When the two spoke over the weekend, they agreed to stay in touch, the official said.
Their conversation came as Russia claimed that some troops are being pulled back from the Ukrainian border. But US officials say they will only believe that when they see proof.
“What’s important is that we try to verify based on the fact that we’ve seen other instances in the past where Russia has claimed to be de-escalating and in fact, facts on the ground didn’t prove that to be true,” Ambassador Julianne Smith, US permanent representative to NATO, said earlier today.
As of this morning, the US has still not received a written response from Russia on Ukraine after the US gave Russia a written response almost three weeks ago.
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Biden will speak with French President Macron today, source says
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
US President Joe Biden plans to speak with French President Emmanuel Macron again today, according to a person familiar.
They spoke last week as Macron works to advance diplomacy with Russia.
Macron spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday for 1 hour and 40 minutes. According to the Kremlin, the two had an “in-depth exchange of views” during the call. They discussed “conditions for security and stability in Europe,” Élysée Palace said.
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Putin calls deterrence of Russia by the West a "threat," but adds Russia is ready for "negotiation track"
From CNN's Nathan Hodge and Anna Chernova in Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after several hours of one-on-one talks in the Kremlin on February 15 in Moscow, Russia.
(Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance/Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin called Western deterrence of Russia a “direct and immediate threat,” saying once again the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization had not satisfied Russia’s security concerns.
Speaking at a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Putin said: “We view the deterrence of Russia by force as a direct and immediate threat to national security, which the legal agreements of the draft projects submitted by us are designed to remove.”
Putin was referring to security demands by Russia, to which the US and NATO have responded in written form.
Putin added: “We are ready to continue this joint work further. We are also ready to follow the negotiation track but all issues must be considered as a whole, without being separated from the main Russian proposals, the implementation of which is an unconditional priority for us.”
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US stock market jumps after Russia says it's withdrawing some troops
From CNN’s Matt Egan
The Grand Kremlin palace, center, and the Cathedral of the Annunciation, right, in Moscow, Russia, on February. 15.
(Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
Wall Street’s Russia-Ukraine fears eased Tuesday morning after Russia announced it is withdrawing some troops following the completion of recent drills near Ukraine.
The Dow jumped about 280 points, or 0.8%. The S&P 500 surged 1% and the Nasdaq was 1.5% higher.
Investors have been concerned that an armed Russian conflict with Ukraine could badly damage the global economy. A war could send prices surging in regions that have already been struggling with rapidly rising inflation, especially as energy supplies could be disrupted in the middle of a conflict. Russia is a major exporter of oil and particularly natural gas.
US oil futures tumbled about 3.5%. That’s despite the fact that Russia stressed Tuesday that major military exercises would continue.
The market reaction to signs of potential de-escalation is the latest example of investors hanging on nearly every headline emerging from the crisis.
The Dow and S&P 500 have declined three days in a row, including a drop on Monday that came after the State Department announced the closure of the US embassy in Kyiv.
US oil prices jumped above $95 a barrel Monday for the first time since 2014 on concerns about the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, crude reversed course Tuesday morning, falling to $92 a barrel.
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German chancellor says "it is our damned duty to prevent a war in Europe" after meeting with Putin
From CNN's Stephanie Halasz
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin give a joint press conference after a one-on-one meeting in Moscow, Russia, on February 15.
(Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance/Getty Images)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz voiced concern over what he called “the sign of the threatening crisis in Europe,” during a news conference at the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Scholz said the two comprehensibly discussed the Russian military gathering at the Ukrainian border.
“I cannot stress more how concerned we are,” Scholz said.
Scholz said Putin and he agreed the Normandy format was important to solve the Ukrainian conflict. “I would not say this is lost,” he said.
“For us Germans, but also for all Europeans, it is important that sustainable security cannot be achieved against Russia, but only with Russia,” the German chancellor said.
“I believe that we are in the situation to use all possibilities to make a peaceful solution possible. What is important for me is that the talks take place in this trilateral contact group, therefore in Minsk,” Scholz said during the news conference.
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Latest intelligence on Russian military buildup is "not encouraging," says British prime minister
From CNN's Amy Cassidy
A satellite image shows a deployment of battle groups and troops in Soloti, Russia on February 13.
Maxar Technologies/Reuters
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he is not bolstered by the latest intelligence on Russia’s military buildup around Ukraine and is receiving “mixed signals,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“We are seeing Russian openness to conversations. On the other hand, the intelligence that we’re seeing today is still not encouraging,” he said.
“We’ve got Russian field hospitals being constructed near the border with Ukraine, in Belarus for [what] only can be construed as a preparation for an invasion. You’ve got more battalion tactical groups actually being brought closer to the border with Ukraine, according to the intelligence that we’re seeing,” he added.
Russia announced Tuesday that some troops would be returning to bases after completing military drills.
To reassure the UK and other Western leaders, Johnson said they would have to see a “program of de-escalation” from Russia.
“That means withdrawing the battalion tactical groups away from a potential theater of conflict, not constructing field hospitals on the border with Belarus and between Belarus and Ukraine; a sense that things are being scaled back, scaled down, that the threat is over and the conversation and negotiation is beginning,” he said.
“We think there is an avenue for diplomacy,” Johnson added.
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Biden official warns Russia against weaponizing energy
From CNN’s Matt Egan
The Biden administration warned Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday against weaponizing its energy exports during the standoff with Ukraine.
“If Putin decides to weaponize his energy supplies, it would be a major mistake,” Daleep Singh, US deputy national security adviser, said on CNBC.
The official noted that Russia is “incredibly dependent” on the West as a consumer for its energy supplies, with oil and natural gas accounting for half of the country’s budget revenue and two-thirds of its export revenue.
Singh added that US officials are “prepared for whatever might unfold.”
Some more context: Oil prices have climbed sharply in recent days in part due to concerns how Russia’s energy exports could be impacted by a full-scale conflict. JPMorgan recently warned oil could soar to $120 a barrel if there is any disruption to Russia’s oil flows.
Natural gas prices spiked in Europe last fall as Russia’s exports tumbled. Putin denied allegations in October that Russia was deliberately driving up gas prices, saying: “Russia is not using any weapons.”
Singh said “actions speak louder than words” when asked about the Russian troop withdrawal announcement.
Singh reiterated that Western powers will punish Russia if there is an invasion.
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US must first verify claims of a potential move toward de-escalation by Russia, US ambassador to NATO says
From CNN’s James Frater in Brussels
United States Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith speaks during a media conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on February 15.
(Virginia Mayo/AP)
The US ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Julianne Smith, said the US is “monitoring the situation” after the Kremlin announced the return of some Russian troops to their bases following the completion of military exercises, adding that the US “will have to verify” claims of a potential move towards de-escalation by Russia.
Speaking during a press briefing in Brussels, Smith further noted that Russia “made a similar claim” regarding a potential de-escalation of tensions in December, but this later proved false.
“When we went in to verify, we actually found no signs of that. And since then, we’ve only seen Russian forces moving in the opposite direction,” Smith continued.
Earlier on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the return of some Russian troops to their bases, noting during a press briefing that this is a “normal process” after the completion of military exercises.
“Russia has conducted and will continue to conduct military exercises throughout the territory of the Russian Federation — this is an ongoing process, as in all countries of the world,” he added.
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US accuses Moscow spies of working with Russian-language media outlets to spread Ukraine disinformation
From CNN's Sean Lyngaas and Zachary Cohen
The US believes Russian intelligence agencies have worked closely with the editorial staff of five Russian-language media outlets to boost public support for a renewed Russian invasion of Ukraine, US officials familiar with the intelligence assessment told CNN in a media briefing.
Officers with Russia’s domestic and foreign intelligence agencies, the FSB and SVR, have covertly planted articles in publications that blame the West for tensions with Russia over Ukraine, question the legitimacy of the Ukrainian government and challenge the US commitment to its European allies, US officials alleged.
A pillar of the alleged propaganda scheme is the Strategic Culture Foundation, a Russian journal that the US Treasury Department sanctioned last April for spreading disinformation in the 2020 US election, officials said.
The US officials did not present the underlying intelligence the allegations were based on, and they declined to describe how the information was obtained. Some of the information is corroborated by open-source reporting.
The disclosure is part of a furious effort by the Biden administration to declassify intelligence in the hope of preempting Russian military action in Ukraine, which Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other US officials have said could happen at any time. Russia has massed an estimated 130,000 troops on Ukraine’s border, according to two sources familiar with recent assessments.
Neither the Strategic Culture Foundation nor the Russian Embassy in Washington responded to a request for comment. Russia has previously denied US allegations that the Kremlin was spreading misinformation.
White House conducted tabletop exercises to prepare for potential Russian invasion of Ukraine
From CNN's Kaitlan Collins
After the National Security Council recognized last November that Russia could potentially invade Ukraine, a broad range of government officials formed a so-called “Tiger Team” to create a playbook to game out how the US would respond to such an attack.
The effort — led by Alex Bick, the NSC’s director for strategic planning — has been months in the making and involved several aspects what a response could require, “from humanitarian assistance, to force posture moves, to embassy security, to diplomatic efforts, to sanctions and other forms of pressure, to cyber,” an administration official told CNN.
The team — which included officials from the State Department, Pentagon, Joint Staff, USAID, Energy Department, Homeland Security, Treasury and the intel community — conducted two lengthy tabletop exercises to practice, including one that involved Cabinet members.
The Washington Post was first to report the details of the preparation.
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UK foreign secretary said she's concerned a Russian attack "would not stop at Ukraine"
From CNN’s Niamh Kennedy
UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss is seen during a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexander Garden, Moscow, on February 10.
(Sergei Savostyanov/TASS/Getty Images)
UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she fears a Russian attack “would not stop at Ukraine.”
“This is an attack on the neighboring states of Russia and other Eastern European countries, in trying to undermine the legitimacy of them being part of NATO,” Truss told Sky News on Monday.
She said an invasion into Ukraine could bring about the “undermining of security more broadly in Europe.”
The foreign secretary sounded a warning that a Russian invasion still “could be imminent” after comments from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky created further uncertainty about the prospect of an attack this coming Wednesday.
Truss laid out a range of possibilities, saying there could be an attack on Kyiv, an attack from the East or potentially a “false-flag” operation – the fabrication of a Ukrainian attack on Russia, which US officials have previously alleged Russia is doing by creating “a very graphic propaganda video.”
Russian troops could move down to Kyiv from border areas “very, very quickly,” Truss added. Last week, the UK government advised British citizens in Ukraine to leave the country now.
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Dow futures jump 400 points, oil drops after Russia says it's withdrawing some troops
From CNN’s Matt Egan
Wall Street’s Russia-Ukraine fears eased Tuesday morning after Russia announced it is withdrawing some troops following the completion of recent drills near Ukraine.
Dow futures jumped more than 400 points and US oil futures tumbled about 3.5%, despite the fact that Russia stressed Tuesday that major military exercises would continue.
The market reaction to signs of potential de-escalation is the latest example of investors hanging on nearly every headline emerging from the crisis.
The Dow and S&P 500 have declined three days in a row, including a drop on Monday that came after the US State Department announced the closure of the US embassy in Kyiv and that it was “temporarily relocating” the small number of remaining diplomatic personnel in the country to Lviv.
US oil prices jumped above $95 a barrel Monday for the first time since 2014 on concerns about the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, crude reversed course Tuesday morning, falling to $92 a barrel.
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NATO's Stoltenberg says Russia "still has time to step back from the brink"
From CNN's James Frater in Brussels
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg gestures as he gives a news conference ahead of a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels, Belgium, on February 15.
(Johanna Geron/Reuters)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the signs from Moscow for continued diplomatic work “gives grounds for cautious optimism.”
Speaking during a press conference in Brussels, Belgium, Stoltenberg said Russia still “has time to step back from the brink.”
“We are ready to discuss NATO-Russia relations, European security including the situation in and around Ukraine, and risk reduction, transparency and arms control,” he continued, before adding that “we will not compromise on our core principles.”
“Every nation has the right to choose his own path. And they will never be first class and second-class members of NATO. We are all NATO allies.”
Some background: Ukraine is not currently a member of NATO, but has long hoped to join the alliance. This is a sore point for Russia, which sees NATO as a threat and vehemently opposes the move.
Amid recent tensions with the West, Russia has asked for iron-clad guarantees that the alliance won’t expand further east — particularly into Ukraine.
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UN Secretary-General says costs of Ukraine-Russia conflict "too high to contemplate"
From CNN's Radina Gigova in Atlanta
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a press encounter at the UN headquarters in New York, on February 14.
(Xie E/Xinhua/Getty Images)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday he is “deeply worried by the heightened tensions and increased speculation about a potential military conflict in Europe” and that the price of a potential conflict “is too high to contemplate.”
Guterres made the remarks at a stakeout after speaking with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Russia and Ukraine, according to a statement by his office.
“My message is clear: There is no alternative to diplomacy,” he said, adding “I will remain fully engaged in the hours and days to come.”
Guterres went on to say that “All issues – including the most intractable – can and must be addressed and resolved through diplomatic frameworks. It is my firm belief that this principle will prevail.”
He said the United Nations Country Team remains fully operational in Ukraine and that “the time is now” to defuse tensions. “There is no place for incendiary rhetoric. Public statements should aim to reduce tensions, not inflame them,” Guterres said.
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India urges its citizens to "consider leaving" Ukraine
From CNN’s Swati Gupta
The Indian embassy in Kyiv issued an advisory Tuesday urging its citizens, particularly students, to “consider leaving temporarily” amid heightened tensions in Ukraine with Russia.
“In view of the uncertainties of the current situation in Ukraine, particularly students whose stay is not essential, may consider leaving temporarily,” the advisory said.
“Indian nationals are also advised to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine,” it added.
It comes as a number of countries have told their nationals to leave Ukraine after a week of failed diplomatic measures to avert a Russian invasion of the country.
The embassy also asked Indian nationals in Ukraine to keep them informed about their status and said the embassy in Kyiv would continue to function normally in the meantime.
Aside from a small Indian business community in Kyiv, there are approximately 18,000 Indian students studying medicine and engineering in Ukrainian universities, according to the Indian embassy.
Earlier this month, the official spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External affairs Arindam Bagchi called for a “peaceful resolution of the situation.”
“We have called for a peaceful resolution of the situation by sincere and sustained diplomatic efforts to ensure that concerns of all sides are resolved through constructive dialogue for long-term peace and stability in the region and beyond,” Bagchi said in a press briefing.
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Putin and Scholz talks begin
From CNN's Stephanie Halasz in London and Darya Tarasova in Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meet at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia on February 15.
Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik/AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German chancellor Olaf Scholz have started their meeting in the Kremlin.
In brief opening remarks, the two leaders – seated at the famously enormous table – Scholz welcomed the opportunity to continue seeking a diplomatic resolution to the current crisis with Ukraine.
Putin told Scholz that the two leaders would “devote a significant part of our time to the security situation in Europe.”
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Ukraine president grateful for international financial support
From Akanksha Sharma in Hong Kong
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday thanked the United States and Canada for sending his country financial aid amid the ongoing security crisis with Russia.
“We are grateful to the United States for providing substantial financial support of $ 1 billion and $ 3 billion available for projects in Ukraine,” Zelensky said in a post on his official Twitter account.
He also thanked US President Joe Biden “for the quick decision and concrete results” following their conversation on Sunday.
On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the US government “is offering a sovereign loan guarantee to Ukraine of up to $1 billion to support its economic reform agenda and continued engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).”
“This offer – combined with the strong partnership between Ukraine, the IMF, other international financial institutions, the G7 and other bilateral donors – will bolster Ukraine’s ability to ensure economic stability, growth, and prosperity for its people in the face of Russia’s destabilizing behavior,” Blinken said in a statement.
The IMF is an organization of 190 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability and facilitate international trade.
In a separate tweet, Zelensky expressed his gratitude to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for also providing half a billion dollars in financial aid.
On Monday, Trudeau confirmed in a press release that “Canada will donate over $7 million of lethal weapons and assorted support items to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
Russia’s Ambassador to Canada, Oleg Stepanov, called the giving of weapons aid to Ukraine “unacceptable” in an interview with Russian state news agency TASS.
Stepanov said the move would “only aggravate the current conflict,” adding that “by providing weapons, Western countries are pushing the Kyiv regime to continue the war against its own people,” according to TASS.
Ambassador Stepanov called on Ottawa “to refrain from such actions and instead use its special influence with the authorities in Kyiv to bring them to the negotiating table.”
Among the lethal weapons donated by Canada are “machine guns, pistols, carbines, 1.5 million rounds of ammunition, sniper rifles, and various related equipment”, the Canadian government press release said Monday.
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A world on edge awaits Putin's critical move
Analysis by CNN's Stephen Collinson
The world is suspended in an extraordinary moment of geopolitical limbo, on edge for a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine amid conflicting signals in Moscow, confusion in Kyiv and dire warnings from Washington.
Already extreme tensions rose even further as one of the most dangerous moments in Europe since World War II stretches nerves and leaves everyone – apart perhaps from President Vladimir Putin – wondering what is next.
On Monday, there were signs of a possible last-minute openness to a diplomatic off-ramp in the Kremlin, but the spectacle of an estimated 130,000 troops on high alert outside Ukraine’s borders suggested a feint as much as a blink by Putin.
There is a palpable sense that Russia and the West have reached a historic fork in the road. Down one route lies a return to the confrontation and tensions that prevailed for decades during the Cold War. Down the other might lie a diplomatic fudge that no key player seems able to frame given stark Russian demands.
Ukraine skeptical after Kremlin announces withdrawal of some forces near border
From Olga Voytovich and Tim Lister in Kyiv and Uliana Pavlova in Moscow
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed doubts over a Russian statement that some units that had been on military exercises near the country’s border would be returning to their bases.
Kuleba told a media briefing in Kyiv that “various statements are constantly being made from the Russian Federation, so we already have a rule: “Do not hear and then believe. But do see and then believe.»
However, he welcomed the fact that diplomacy had successfully managed to deter further Russian attacks until now.
“Together with our partners, we have indeed managed to deter Russia from any further escalation. Today is mid-February. And you see that diplomacy continues to work,” Kuleba said.
Kuleba also spoke about moves in the Russian parliament to recognize the breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine as independent. Those regions call themselves the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics and have been controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014
“I would like to remind you once again of Ukraine’s unchanging position. If a decision on recognition is made, Russia will de facto and de jure withdraw from the Minsk agreements. With all the attendant consequences. We have already warned our partners about this position.”
The Minsk agreements are meant to find a pathway to settle the status of the breakaway regions.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the withdrawal of some Russian troops was a “normal process” after the completion of military exercises.
“We have always said that, after the completion of the exercises, after stages that must be completed within a certain period of time, the troops will return to their places of permanent deployment. This is what is happening this time as well. This is a normal process,” he said.
“Russia has conducted and will continue to conduct military exercises throughout the territory of the Russian Federation – this is an ongoing process, as in all countries of the world,” he added.
According to an earlier statement from the Russian Defense Ministry, military exercises will continue, involving troops from “almost all” Russian military districts.
Addressing members of the press on Tuesday, Peskov said Russia has the right to carry out such military exercises in its territory, adding that this is “non-negotiable.”
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Some Russian troops on Ukraine border returning to bases but major military exercises continue
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, right, welcomes OSCE Chairman and Poland's Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau during a meeting in Moscow on February 15.
(Shamil Zhumatov/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and the West with Russia. Moscow announced Tuesday it was withdrawing some troops after completing recent drills near Ukraine, but stressed other major military exercises would continue.
The Russian Defense Ministry said troops from its Southern and Western military districts – parts of which are next door to Ukraine – had begun returning to their home stations, though the announcement did not say precisely where those troops were permanently based, where they had been exercising, or how many of them were withdrawing.
Russia has amassed more than 130,000 troops near Ukraine’s border in recent weeks, according to US estimates, raising fears from Western and Ukrainian intelligence officials that an invasion could be imminent.
Here’s a rundown of some of the latest developments:
Last ditch western diplomatic efforts continue Tuesday, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a day after visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen late Monday that Putin is “willing to negotiate,” saying the Ukraine crisis was only one part of Russia’s larger security concerns.
The Kremlin’s remarks reflected a slight shift in tone from Moscow. Earlier Monday Russia’s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov had insisted, in a carefully choreographed meeting shown on Russian TV Monday, that there is still room for a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
Meanwhile in Kyiv, Ukrainians are preparing for an invasion even though they don’t think it’s imminent.
