Summary:
Reports overnight from both sides (Ukraine, Rebels) that shelling has begun, claiming ceasefire broken
US envoy says evidence on the ground is that Russia is moving toward an "imminent invasion," says "this is a crucial moment."
Russia expels US Deputy Ambassador Bartle Gorman
Russia says no invasion of Ukraine in plans
Russia issues statement demanding all US troops leave Central and Eastern Europe
Biden says probability of invasion is "very high", says Russia "involved in false flag moves"
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov accused the West on Thursday of "information terrorism."
Blinken to speak at UN Security Council at 10amET
Update (0925ET): Washington is doubling down on its allegations that Russia is planning to use a false flag attack as a pretext to invade Ukraine Russia says US failed to give a "constructive response" to its proposal, which includes the rejection of NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia.
Here's more from Reuters:
NATO was "concerned that Russia is trying to stage a pretext for an armed attack against Ukraine.
There is still no clarity, no certainty about the Russian intentions", the Western military alliance's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
"They have enough troops, enough capabilities to launch a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine with very little or no warning time," he told reporters at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels. "That is what makes the situation so dangerous."
Here's more about today's latest "skirmish" from Ukraine:
A senior Ukrainian government source said the shelling at the line of contact with Russian-backed separatist forces went beyond the scale of ceasefire violations routinely reported throughout the conflict.
Update (0910ET): Ukrainian authorities claim that shelling between government forces and separatist rebels in the Donbas region has ended as of 1300 local time. Meanwhile, a flurry of headlines have hit the tape, conveying Russia's latest round of denials.
- RUSSIA SAYS THERE IS NO INVASION OF UKRAINE IN PLANS - IFAX CITES RUSSIAN RESPONSE ON SECURITY GUARANTEES
- RUSSIA HAS NOT SEEN FULL INTENTION FROM UNITED SATES TO STICK TO INDIVISIBILITY PRINCIPLE OF SECURITY
- RUSSIA SAYS DE-ESCALATION REQUIRES THAT UKRAINE COMPLY WITH MINSK AGREEMENTS AND NO MORE WEAPONS SHOULD BE DELIVERED TO UKRAINE
- RUSSIA INSISTS ON WITHDRAWAL OF ALL U.S. FORCES FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
- RUSSIA EXPECTS SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FROM U.S. AND NATO REGARDING NO FURTHER EASTWARD ENLARGEMENT
- RUSSIA SAYS ARMS CONTROL ISSUES CANT BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY FROM OTHER TOPICS - RIA
The US, meanwhile, is insisting again that Russia is "involved" in "false flag" moves (though it still hasn't offered any actual proof to support these allegations). President Joe Biden said he has no plans to speak with Putin again. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is preparing to deliver a press briefing at 1000ET.
Meanwhile, Russia: "In the absence of the readiness of the American side to agree on firm, legally binding guarantees to ensure our security from the US and its allies, Russia will be forced to respond, including through the implementation of measures of a military-technical nature."
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February 17, 2022 - Russian military expert Rob Lee has stated that when Russia said that they will be taking 'military technical response' they likely meant moving weapon systems closer to NATO members such as 9M729 (SSC-8) cruise missile systems. Read more
February 17, 2022 - Russian state news RIA Novosti reported saying that the United States allegedly "twisted" Russia's proposals on security guarantees in the direction of creating advantages for Washington and its allies. Russia says they expect a full withdrawal of US and NATO forces from eastern Europe. Read more
February 17, 2022 - Russia says that Moscow will be forced to respond due to Washington's unwillingness to agree on security guarantees, according to Russian state news TASS. Read more
February 17, 2022 - When Biden was asked is it "your sense Putin is going to go thru with it" Biden responded with, “Yes… not now, in a matter of days.” Read more
February 17, 2022 - Russian Foreign Ministry website seems to be under DDOS attack at the moment. Website now shows no errors except default 'site took too long to be reached' error which indicates the server has been taken down. Read more
February 17, 2022 - The Russian Foreign Ministry website is currently down, with a database error "DB query error. Please try later". Read more
February 17, 2022 - Russian state news has reported that Russia has expelled United States Deputy Ambassador in Moscow Bart Gorman. The United States has allegedly promised a 'response'. Read more
February 17, 2022 - There has reportedly been shelling on a kindergarten in Stanytsia Luhanska, Ukraine. Russian state news agencies claim that the artillery fire came from the Ukrainian front and that Ukraine targeted a kindergarten within its own territory. Ukraine says that the artillery fire came from Russia and that it is 'a big provocation'. Read more
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