Ukraine crisis: Putin and Macron ‘to speak on phone’; US says 40% of Russian forces in attack position
Joe Biden ‘convinced’ Vladimir Putin plans invasion; Russian leader to discuss crisis with French counterpart on Sunday; Ukraine’s Zelenskiy believed to be heading to Munich security conference
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| European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, Germany. |
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said “we cannot let this stand” but there is “still hope that peace will prevail and that diplomacy will take us there.”
She said western leaders are ready to respond with financial and economic sanctions, and that gas reserves are “on the safe side” even in the event of full Russian gas supply disruption.
Von der Leyen said western allies are aligned and united, supporting democracy in Ukraine against its seven-year onslaught from Russia, she added, such as disinformation, cyber attacks and hybrid war.
Lithuania’s president called for boosting the security of the Baltic states with US troops, Reuters reports, after meeting with US defence secretary Lloyd Austin in Vilnius on Saturday.
“The Russian military buildup at the eastern Nato border is changing the security situation,” president Gitanas Nauseda said in a statement published after the meeting.
“It is critically important to strengthen the (Baltic states) regional security with additional troops from the United States and quicken cooperation in military procurement,” he added.
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