O/C} In Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with the Ukrainian President today after U.S. officials again warned of an imminent Russian invasion.
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An augmenting number of Russian troops to some 130,000 lately near Ukraine's borders has raised Washington's hackles as President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an effort to defuse the crisis.
The two leaders spoke by phone for roughly 50 minutes, during which they both concurred that pursuing diplomacy and deterrence is the best way to call a halt to this tormenting crisis.
This came on the heels of Biden's phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
The Biden administration stressed that Russia's false-flag operation aimed at targeting a Ukrainian military exercise slated for this Tuesday takes the cake, as does Russia's massive military buildup.
Intelligence in recent days has made for one brooding atmosphere as talks aimed at inducing a diplomatic solution to the crisis continue.
While Ukraine's President insists hitting the panic button doesn't fly with him, critics called Zelensky just a novice politician who is no match for his shrewd and accomplished Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
On top of that, Western leaders have banged the drum for a united front against Russia, while Zelensky appears to be sitting on the fence, only saying Ukraine is decidedly ready to combat Russia. Something many portrayed as a gulf between Western leaders and Kiev.
Meantime, international airlines were quick to halt flights to and from Kiev as the U.S. hammered home grave warnings of a possible incursion. This sent Ukraine's Ministry of Infrastructure scrambling to assure airlines that Ukraine had not closed its airspace, suggesting it might step in to safeguard airplanes.
For now, the Ukrainian government is in the hot seat as both critics and U.S. President Joe Biden's administration surmise that a straw in the wind will rear its ugly head in a few days' time.
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