Any Americans still in Ukraine should leave “immediately,” the White House said on Friday, warning that Russia could potentially launch an invasion of the country “any day.” – maybe even during the Olympics.
President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said at a news conference: “Any American in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible and under any circumstances within the next 24 to next 48 hours.
Those remarks echo Biden’s own warning to American citizens in Ukraine “leave now.”“in a Thursday night interview with NBC News ‘Lester Holt. “This is a very different situation and things can get crazy fast,” Biden said.
Mr. Sullivan noted that the US is not sure that Russian President Putin has made the final decision about invading Ukraine. But “it could happen soon,” he said.
Russia has spent months building up its military presence at various points along the Ukrainian border. More than 100,000 Russian troops are currently stationed here.
An invasion, if it happens, was previously thought to take place after the Winter Olympics in Beijing to avoid conflict with Russia’s ally China.
The 2022 winter games, scheduled to end on February 20, have been plagued by controversy, including diplomatic boycotts over China’s human rights record, and revelations recently that a Russian figure skating champion fails drug test.
But Mr Sullivan on Friday stressed that an attack “could start in the run-up to the Olympics, despite a lot of speculation” that it would not.
If Russia invades, the United States and its allies will be “ready to respond decisively” through a range of actions, such as imposing “severe economic sanctions” and changing posture. NATO forces, Mr. Sullivan said.
“If Russia continues, its long-term power and influence will be diminished, not enhanced by an invasion,” Sullivan said.
“It will have to face a more resolute transatlantic community. It will have to make more concessions to China. It will face great pressure on the economy and export controls will erode erode its defense industrial base, and it will face waves of condemnation from around the world,” he said.
“Whatever happens next, the West is more united than in previous years,” said Sullivan.
Biden earlier on Friday hosted a video call with several NATO leaders to discuss Kremlin escalation in Russia-Ukraine border.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
– CNBC’s Christina Wilkie contributed to this report.
