The attack is potentially imminent for the United States. According to a senior White House official, a Russian invasion of Ukraine could “happen at any time”.
“We continue to see signs of Russian escalation, including the arrival of new forces on the Ukrainian border,” White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Friday. The United States indeed believes that the Russian attack is near. Thus, despite certain rumors indicating that Moscow would wait until the end of the Beijing Olympics to avoid overshadowing its Chinese ally, a war could break out before February 20.
The United States plans to begin an assault by aerial bombardment. Americans in Ukraine have also been called upon to leave the country “within twenty-four to forty-eight hours”. The United Kingdom and Norway have done the same with their nationals, as well as the EU with its personnel.
EU sanctions
During a videoconference with US President Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen clarified “the progress of sectoral sanctions” of Europe in the event of Russian intervention in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron will speak to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday noon about the crisis on the Russian-Ukrainian border, the Elysée announced.
If “all options are on the table”, the sanctions of the European Union to punish the Kremlin in the event of an offensive in Ukraine, will mainly impact the financial and energy sectors. Exports of high-tech products will also be affected.
