Joe Biden has said the United States believes Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine, warning that such an attack could happen in the coming days.
Speaking from the White House on Friday afternoon, Biden said Russian troops “currently have Ukraine surrounded” and that Washington believed Moscow would target Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.
“We have reason to believe that Russian forces are planning and intend to attack Ukraine in the coming week, in the coming days,” he told reporters.
“Make no mistake, if Russia pursues its plans it will be responsible for a catastrophic and needless war of choice. The US and our allies are prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory from any threat to our collective security, as well.”
Biden’s comments come amid increasing tensions over Russia’s troop deployment near its border with Ukraine, which for months has spurred warnings from Washington and its European allies against a possible Russian invasion.
