US Defense Secretary Warns "Russia Is Ready to Attack Ukraine"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated on the 19th (local time) that Russia is prepared to attack Ukraine, according to major foreign media reports.

Secretary Austin made these remarks during a press conference after meeting with Lithuanian President Gitanas Naus?da and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida ?imonyt? in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.

Secretary Austin expressed hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin would step back from the brink of war. He also emphasized that the United States will stand together with its allies, including the three Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia.

The meeting took place amid ongoing concerns about the possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Following his attendance at the NATO Defense Ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium on the 16th and 17th, Secretary Austin continued discussions on the Ukraine situation with European allies, including a visit to Poland on the 18th.

Russia claims it has no intention to invade Ukraine and is withdrawing troops deployed near the border, but the United States argues that Russian forces near the border have actually increased and that an invasion could happen at any time.

Regarding the bombardment and clashes occurring since the 16th in the eastern Ukrainian conflict zone of Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk regions), the West alleges that Russia is conducting a "false flag operation," a staged act to create a pretext for invading Ukraine.

On the 18th, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed concern about the possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and said he has evidence that President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade. However, he emphasized the possibility of a diplomatic resolution until the very end.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.