DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION MORE LIKELY THAN RUSSIAN ATTACK: UKRAINE

Ukraine’s presidency on Sunday insisted the chance of resolving soaring tensions with Russia through diplomacy remained greater than that of an attack, as the US warned Moscow was stepping up preparations for an invasion.

 “An honest assessment of the situation suggests that the chance of finding a diplomatic solution for de-escalation is still substantially higher than the threat of further escalation,” said presidency advisor Mykhailo Podolyak in a statement.

Podolyak said that Russia had been conducting large-scale troop rotations, manoeuvres and weapon deployments
on a regular basis “to ensure constant massive psychological pressure” since massing forces at Ukraine’s border last spring. “For our intelligence service and our armed forces, this Russian activity comes as absolutely no  surprise,” he said.

Podolyak pointed out that Ukraine’s Western backers received “a significant amount” of their intelligence about Russian activities from Kyiv.  “The task of both Ukraine and our partners is to be prepared for any scenario,
and we are fulfilling this task 100 percent.” The statement came after Washington said its intelligence assessments showed Moscow was stepping up moves towards a potential full-scale invasion, and has in place 70 percent of the forces it would need for such an attack. 

KYIV AFP, 6 FEB, 2022