Biden: ‘Every indication’ is that Russia will attack Ukraine ‘within the next several days’
It was the latest sign of mistrust from the West at President Vladimir Putin’s claims he is withdrawing troops and open to diplomacy. Biden, while maintaining there was a “diplomatic path” that avoids conflict, nevertheless used stark language to predict imminent violence.
“It’s very high,” Biden said when asked by CNN’s Jeremy Diamond how high the threat level is for a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“They have moved more troops in, number one. Number two, we have reason to believe they are engaged in a false flag operation to have an excuse to go in. Every indication we have is they are prepared to go into Ukraine, attack Ukraine,” Biden said.
Pressed on whether he believes an attack will happen — and when — Biden said: “Yes. My sense is it will happen in the next several days.”
He was speaking moments before Secretary of State Antony Blinken was due to address the United Nations Security Council, a last-minute stop before heading to Germany for the Munich Security Conference. Vice President Kamala Harris also departed early Thursday for the summit, where the Ukraine crisis is expected to dominate discussion among leaders and national security officials.
Biden said he asked Blinken “to go to the United Nations and make a statement today” to lay out a diplomatic path forward. He said he also proposed diplomatic off-ramps to Putin in a Sunday telephone conversation, which lasted just over an hour.
“There is a path, there is a way through this,” Biden said, adding he had “no plans” for a new call to Putin.
Earlier Thursday, the US received a response from Russia after the Biden administration gave a written document to the Kremlin three weeks ago, a senior State Department official said.
It was the latest in a back-and-forth between the two nations over their security concerns in Europe and proposals for addressing them. Neither side has framed the others’ responses as sufficient.
Biden said he had not yet read the latest response from Putin.
“It’s come from the Moscow embassy. They are faxing it here — not faxing it — they’re going to send it here. I have not read it yet — I cannot comment on it,” he said.
This story has been updated with additional background.
