The US official explained that the forces that Russian President Vladimir Putin will use to launch an attack on Ukraine are “100% ready,” noting that “Washington believes that Putin is fully ready to launch a comprehensive attack on Ukraine, which is the most likely option.”
The US official revealed that “Russia plans to use its reserve soldiers and National Guard as part of long-term goals in Ukraine.”
A Pentagon official said that “we still have military channels of communication with the Russian Ministry of Defense through the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff,” adding that the Pentagon does not rule out “raising the level of communication channels with Russia.”
On the other hand, and later on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of the United States and Britain discussed by phone the Ukraine crisis, and during the phone call, they discussed the development and implementation of rapid and severe economic measures against Russia.
US Secretary of State Blinken reiterated his condemnation of Russia’s decision to recognize the “independence” of the two republics in eastern Ukraine, and condemned Moscow’s decision to send Russian forces to separatist areas as a “peacekeeping” force.
The US Secretary affirmed his unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Washington’s commitment to European security.
On the same front, a Reuters witness said today, Wednesday, that two separate military columns, without specific insignia, headed towards the city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine from different routes coming from the direction of the Russian border.
The reporter, who was in the region, which includes two Russian-backed separatist regions whose independence was recognized by Moscow on Monday, said that one of the two columns included 9 tanks and an infantry fighting vehicle, while the second column consisted of trucks and fuel tankers.
Ukraine declared a state of emergency on Wednesday and asked its citizens in Russia to leave, while Moscow began evacuating its embassy in Kiev, in the latest alarming signs for Ukrainians who fear an all-out Russian military attack.