US President Joe Biden on Friday said he is convinced Russia will invade Ukraine and that Moscow plans to push an offensive all the way to the capital Kiev, home to about three million people.
Speaking from the White House, Mr Biden outlined what he saw as the likely start of what could become the gravest confrontation Europe has seen since the Second World War.
“We have reason to believe the Russian forces are planning to intend to attack Ukraine, in the coming week, the coming days,” Mr Biden said. He added that Moscow is likely to “target Ukraine's capital Kiev, a city of 2.8 million innocent people".
He said that, “as of this moment, I'm convinced [Russian President Vladimir Putin has] made the decision” to launch an invasion.
Moscow has already launched an information war to justify an invasion, the president said, noting that Russia is creating “more and more disinformation” that was being sent to the Russian public, including claims that Ukraine is planning to launch an offensive attack in the eastern Donbas region.
“It defies basic logic to believe the Ukrainians would choose this moment, with well over 150,000 troops arrayed on its borders, to escalate,” he said.
Ukraine's foreign ministry pre-emptively denied it had any attack plans.
Mr Biden's remarks came at the end of an extremely tense day in eastern Ukraine, where a series of explosions rocked the Donbas region.
Separatists in the Donbas cities of Luhansk and Donetsk said they were moving civilians to Russia.
The announcement appeared to be part of Moscow’s efforts to counter western warnings of a Russian invasion and to paint Ukraine as the aggressor instead.
To that end, Moscow pointed to a bombing that struck a car outside the main government building in Donetsk. The head of the separatists’ forces, Denis Sinenkov, said the car was his, the Interfax news agency reported. He was unhurt.
While shelling and shooting are common along the line separating Ukrainian forces and the rebels, targeted violence is unusual in rebel-held cities like Donetsk.
However, the explosion and the evacuations were in line with US warnings of false flag attacks.
Compounding the volatility, Russian media reported another explosion in Luhansk and a blast at a nearby gas pipeline.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the US had long predicted “the Russians would take part in pretext or steps that would lay a predicate for either war or to create confusion or spread misinformation on the ground about what's actually happening".
Mr Putin on Saturday was scheduled to oversee Russian exercises involving its strategic nuclear forces.
He will observe the drills involving practice launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles in a demonstration showing that Russia remains a nuclear superpower.
Mr Biden said he does not think Mr Putin is “remotely contemplating” using nuclear weapons.
“He is focused on trying to convince the world that he has the ability to change the dynamics in Europe in a way that he cannot,” the US president said.
His remarks came shortly after he spoke with leaders from Canada, Europe and Nato.
The announcement from Anne Neuberger, the White House’s chief cyber official, was the most pointed attribution of responsibility for cyber intrusions that have unfolded as tension escalates between Russia and Ukraine.
She said that while the attacks had a limited impact, they “are consistent with what a Russian effort could look like” and there could be more destructive cyber attacks if Russia proceeds with a further invasion of Ukraine.
“We've been preparing for this responsibility,” she said.
The official said the world must be prepared to “shine a light on malicious cyber activity” and hold actors accountable for attacks.
There are no credible or specific cyber threats to the US at this time, Ms Neuberger added.
At least 10 websites for Ukrainian government agencies and banks were hit with cyber attacks on Tuesday amid growing fears that Russia was preparing to invade the country.
Those websites included the Defence Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Culture Ministry and Ukraine’s two largest state banks.
Speaking alongside Ms Neuberger at the White House, Daleep Singh, the deputy US national security adviser for international economics, said an invasion of Ukraine would mean a “strategic defeat for Russia, pure and simple".
“If Russia invades Ukraine, it would become a pariah to the international community,” Mr Singh said.
“It will become isolated from global financial markets and be deprived of the most sophisticated technological inputs.”
He predicted “intense capital outflows, mounting pressure on its currency, surging inflation, higher borrowing costs, economic contraction and the erosion of its productive capacity".
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris has travelled to Germany for the Munich Security Conference, as she leads the US delegation in crisis talks on Ukraine.
Ms Harris is expected to address the conference on Saturday.
Agencies contributed to this report
Russian President Vladimir Putin signs documents recognising two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent. AFP
A Ukrainian soldier walks past fragments of a mortar shell amid fighting near the front line in Travneve, Donetsk region. Reuters
People wave Russian flags while celebrating Moscow's recognition of the self-proclaimed republic's independence, in Donetsk. AP
Protesters gather at the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry in Kiev, calling on the EU to impose additional sanctions against Russia. Getty Images
Members of the security forces walk in an underpass at a railway station in Kiev. Getty Images
A Ukrainian soldier on the front line near the village of Travneve, in Donetsk. Reuters
Alisa, 38, a media relations specialist, takes part in a combat skills training for civilians near Kiev. Reuters
Alisa poses with a gun at her home near Kiev. Reuters
A young girl takes part in a rally in defence of 'Ukraine, Europe and democratic values', organised by the Association of Ukrainians in Portugal, outside the Russian Consulate in Porto, Portugal. EPA
A Ukrainian soldier takes time out to play with dogs on the front line near the city of Novoluhanske, in Donetsk. Reuters
People gather under the Ukrainian flag for a Day of Solidarity with Ukraine at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. AFP
Residents of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic cross from Ukraine into Russia, after it was announced that women and children would be led to the Rostov region due to rising tension in the area. EPA
After the evacuation of separatist-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine, people complete documents in a temporary accommodation centre in Rostov, Russia. Reuters
War veterans and volunteers train civilians in handling weapons on one of Kiev's city beaches. AFP
Russian and Belarusian helicopters taking part in a joint military exercise of the allied countries’ armed forces. EPA
Ukrainian National Guard soldiers at a mobile checkpoint together with the Ukrainian Security Service agents and police officers during a joint operation in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP
US President Joe Biden delivers a national update on the situation at the Russia-Ukraine border at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP
A Polish soldier uses his phone, as US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak visit the Air Base in Powidz, Poland. Reuters
Mr Austin, left, addresses US troops stationed at the Powidz Air Base in Poland. AP Photo
A woman walks to board a bus, arranged to evacuate local residents, in the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine. Reuters
A satellite image shows an overview of helicopter deployments near Lake Donuzlav in Crimea, Ukraine. Reuters
A Ukrainian Military Forces serviceman looks through a spyglass on the front line with Russia-backed separatists not far from Novolugansk in the Donetsk region. AFP
A serviceman keeps position on the front line. AFP
A Ukrainian frontier guard patrols along the border with Russia, some 40km from the city of Kharkiv. AFP
US President Joe Biden speaks to the media about Russia's buildup on the Ukrainian border as he leaves the White House in Washington. EPA
A Ukrainian frontier guard stands at a check point. AFP
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio enter a hall during a meeting in Moscow. Reuters
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses the United Nations Security Council. AP Photo
An elderly lady walks by as members of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination survey damage to a house from artillery shell that landed in Vrubivka, eastern Ukraine. AP Photo
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives for an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders to discuss Ukraine at the European Council building in Brussels. AP Photo
A local resident boards a train at a suburban area of Kiev. Reuters
A woman stands among debris after the reported shelling of a nursery in the settlement of Stanytsia Luhanska, Ukraine. AFP
A protester shouts slogans during a demonstration outside the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev against high government taxes. AFP
A member of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army rests ahead of deployment to Poland from Fort Bragg in the US. AP Photo
Members of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army clean weaponry ahead of deployment to Poland. AP Photo
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How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
Age 26
Born May 17, 1991
Height 1.80 metres
Birthplace Sydney, Australia
Residence Eastbourne, England
Plays Right-handed
WTA titles 3
Prize money US$5,761,870 (Dh21,162,343.75)
Wins / losses 312 / 181
The cost of Covid testing around the world
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THE SCORES
Ireland 125 all out
(20 overs; Stirling 72, Mustafa 4-18)
UAE 125 for 5
(17 overs, Mustafa 39, D’Silva 29, Usman 29)
UAE won by five wickets
PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP
Men’s:
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)
Women's:
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
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US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
