{O/C} It was a flare-up of tensions between Washington and Moscow following Biden's announcement that he is convinced of a Russian incursion into the Ukrainian Capital of Kiev.
This comes as both America and Britain accuse Russia of orchestrating cyberattacks.
{SOT}
The game is up, says U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House today.
{Soundbite} JOE BIDEN, United States President: We have reason to believe the Russian forces are planning to, intend to, attack Ukraine in the coming week, in the coming days. We believe that they will target Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, a city of 2.8 million innocent people.
Moscow is going to invade anytime, and Biden responded by saying it is par for the course.
{Soundbite} As of this moment, I'm convinced he's made the decision.
The comments came as Biden believes the Russian leader is bound and determined to launch an invasion targeting the capital of Kiev, come what may.
A kiss of death for any diplomatic solutions, said the U.S. President.
{Soundbite} We're calling out Russia's plans loudly, repeatedly, not beacuse we want a conflict, but because we're doing everything in our power to remove any reason that Russia may give to justify invading Ukraine.
Still, Biden implored Russia to opt for diplomacy.
The problem had already come to a head given a day of violence in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk, which had pro-Russian rebels evacuating the conflict zone, a move that's considered a straw in the wind.
Biden also reiterated that the United States and its stalwart allies are united behind slapping Russia with debilitating economic sanctions in the event of an incursion.
This, as the President made the rounds of European leaders on Friday afternoon amid an augmented number of Russian forces near the Ukrainian border.
Russia doesn't appear to have any misgivings about an invasion. Moscow said the country's military are due to conduct drills over this weekend that are expected to feature the launch of ballistic and cruise missiles to counter NATO's threats. But Putin also told the public at a news conference that Moscow still welcomes thrashing the crisis out.
What's more, two explosions took place in the rebel-controlled city of Luhansk early Saturday.
In addition to planned U.S. sanctions on Russian banks, the White House and Britain formally condemned Russia for a spate of cyberattacks under wraps targeting Ukraine's defence ministry and major banks prior to invading Ukraine's sovereignty.
{Soundbite} ANNE NEUBERGER, Deputy National Security Advisor, Cyber & Emerging Technology: While of limited impact, this recent spate of cyberattacks in Ukraine are consistent with what the Russian effort could look like, and laying the groundwork for more disruptive cyberattacks accompanying potential further invasion.
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