Blinken says Russia 'could take action in Ukraine as early as this week'

The United States is “deeply concerned that Russia could take action against Ukraine as early as this week”, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told FRANCE 24 in an interview on Monday, according to Report.

Blinken noted that Moscow’s military build-up indicated an escalation of tensions and not the de-escalation that world powers have been urging Russia to undertake.

“Everything we are seeing, in terms of the deployment of Russian forces around Ukraine – on every side of Ukraine – leads us to that conclusion,” he said, noting that Moscow, “instead of de-escalating has been escalating" by sending "more and more forces" to the region.

Although Blinken said the US was "doing everything we possibly can to convince Russia that it should take the diplomatic path”, he warned that Washington stood ready should Russia choose to invade Ukraine.

“We’re fully prepared for that, in close coordination with all of our European allies and partners.”