U.S.: Putin 'Manufacturing Threats' With Nuclear Force Alert

White House: Putin ‘manufacturing threats’ with nuclear force alert

The Times of Israel is liveblogging Sunday’s events as they unfold.

Bennett said to have told Putin: It’s one hour before midnight

Bennett initiated the call to Putin, which was held at around noon and lasted 20 minutes, Channel 12 reports citing Israeli sources. 

The prime minister updated the United States and Ukraine both before and after the conversation.

Bennett first expressed sorrow regarding the situation, which he said he hoped would not develop into a grave humanitarian crisis.

Putin told Bennett he had no choice but to act, since Ukraine broke its obligations, the report says.

Putin said he is ready to negotiate, and that his representatives were in Belarus, but the Ukrainians were spurning the opportunity to do so.

At that point, Bennett said Israel is ready to assist in any way possible in bringing the sides together, now or in the future, in light of its unique relationship with both countries. 

“We are at one hour before midnight; it’s important to find the optimal points for dialogue,” said Bennett, according to the TV report.

UN spokesman says idea of nuclear conflict ‘inconceivable’

By AFP

A United Nations spokesman says that the idea of a nuclear war is unimaginable, after Russian President Vladimir Putin put his country’s nuclear forces on high alert.

“The mere idea of a nuclear conflict is simply inconceivable,” Stephane Dujarric told AFP when asked for the reaction of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Putin’s move as part of the Ukraine crisis.

Hundreds of French protesters denounce Putin at Paris demonstration

By AP

Hundreds of people protest in Paris and in the Riviera city of Nice against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Ukrainian flags and those of other eastern European nations hoisted high.

Some Russians opposed to the war are also in the Paris crowd.

UN Security Council to hold meeting Monday on Ukraine

The UN Security Council will hold another emergency meeting on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, diplomats said Sunday.

The session, to be held in New York on Monday at 3:00 p.m. (2000 GMT), will focus on the developing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, diplomats said.

It was requested by French President Emmanuel Macron, and will feature officials from the UN’s humanitarian affairs and refugee agencies.