White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan issued a warning on Sunday of the brewing tension between Russia and Ukraine, saying an invasion by the former could begin “any day now.”
Sullivan said he hopes diplomacy will prevail between the two countries, and he could not predict a specific day when a Russian invasion could begin. He also told CNN that Russian forces are in a position to invade Ukraine before the end of the Winter Olympics on Feb. 20.
“The way they have built up their forces, the way they have maneuvered things in place, makes it a distinct possibility there will be major military action very soon,” Sullivan said. “And we are prepared to continue to work on diplomacy, but we are also prepared to respond in a united and decisive way with our allies and partners should Russia proceed.”
DEMOCRATS PRESS BIDEN ON IRAN AS WINDOW FOR DEAL NARROWS
The warning comes shortly after several international airlines have either halted or redirected flights heading to or traveling over Ukraine. Dutch airline KLM canceled flights to the country until further notice on Saturday, while Ukrainian airline SkyUp said on Sunday its flight from Madeira, Portugal, to Kyiv was diverted to the Moldovan capital, Chisinau.
Sullivan previously recommended that Americans in Ukraine leave the country within “24 to 48 hours” during a White House press briefing on Friday afternoon. Later in the evening, the State Department issued an evacuation order for most of the U.S. Embassy staff in Kyiv, Ukraine, “due to the continued threat of Russia military action.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
President Joe Biden had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday morning, when he warned that an invasion of Ukraine would come with “severe consequences” for Russia. Biden was “very direct” with Putin about U.S. plans to ensure the safety of Americans in Ukraine, and he also emphasized the united front of NATO powers compared to Russia’s isolation, according to a Biden administration spokesperson.
