Evidence suggests Russian invasion of Ukraine is still 'imminent,' U.S. says


In keeping with rhetoric from ealier in the week, the U.S. said Thursday that evidence from Ukraine's border shows Russia "moving towards an imminent invasion" — not withdrawing its troops, as the Kremlin has claimed, CNN reports.
"The evidence on the ground is that Russia is moving towards an imminent invasion," said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., on Thursday, per CNN. Thomas-Greenfield said that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will, in a last minute change, address the U.S. Security Council considering "this is a crucial moment."
"Our goal is to convey the gravity of the situation," she added.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also on Thursday said that, "even in the last couple of days," U.S. officials have seen Russia add to its military presence along the border — evidence once again at odds with Moscow's claims.
"I was a soldier myself not that long ago, and I know firsthand that you don't do these sort of things for no reason, and you certainly don't do them if you're getting ready to pack up and go home, so we and our allies will stay vigilant," Austin said Thursday.
Added NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: "We don't know what will happen, but what we do know is that Russia has amassed the biggest force we have seen for decades in and around Ukraine."
Also on Thursday, Russia expelled Deputy U.S. Ambassador Bartle Gorman for reasons not immediately known, Reuters reports.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
The countries around the world without jury trials
The Explainer Legal systems in much of continental Europe and Asia do not rely on randomly selected members of the public
-
How did the Wagner Group recruit young British men for arson attack?
Today's Big Question Russian operatives have been using encrypted messaging apps to groom saboteurs across Europe
-
The best graphic novels
The Week Recommends These inventive illustrated books will transport you to another world
-
Ottawa Treaty: why are Russia's neighbours leaving anti-landmine agreement?
Today's Big Question Ukraine to follow Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as Nato looks to build a new ‘Iron Curtain' of millions of landmines
-
How drone warfare works
The Explainer From Ukraine to Iran, it has become clear that unmanned aircraft are rapidly revolutionising modern warfare
-
How long can Nato keep Donald Trump happy?
Today's Big Question Military alliance pulls out all the stops to woo US president on his peacemaker victory lap
-
How far would Russia go for Iran?
Today's Big Question US air strikes represent an 'embarrassment, provocation and opportunity' all rolled into one for Vladimir Putin
-
Are the UK and Russia already at war?
Today's Big Question Moscow has long been on a 'menacing' war footing with London, says leading UK defence adviser
-
Is UK's new defence plan transformational or too little, too late?
Today's Big Question Labour's 10-year strategy 'an exercise in tightly bounded ambition' already 'overshadowed by a row over money'
-
How will the MoD's new cyber command unit work?
Today's Big Question Defence secretary outlines plans to combat 'intensifying' threat of cyberattacks from hostile states such as Russia
-
What are the different types of nuclear weapons?
The Explainer Speculation mounts that post-war taboo on nuclear weapons could soon be shattered by use of 'battlefield' missiles