Ukraine's presidential office on Sunday (6/2/2022) insisted that the chances
of resolving escalating tensions with Russia through diplomacy remained
greater than an attack.
"An honest assessment of the situation shows that the chances of finding a
diplomatic solution to de-escalation are still much higher than the threat
of further escalation," Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak
said in a statement, as quoted by the Moscow Times.
Podolyak said Russia had carried out large-scale troop rotations, maneuvers
and regular deployment of weapons "to ensure a constant massive
psychological stress" since deploying troops on the Ukrainian border last
spring.
"For our intelligence services and armed forces, this Russian activity is by
no means surprising," he said. Podolyak points out that as a supporter of
the West, Ukraine receives "a large amount" of their intelligence on Russian
activities from Kiev.
"How long will such Russian activity last and for what purpose is it
maintained? Only the Kremlin can know a definite answer to this question,"
he said.
"The task of Ukraine and our partners is to be prepared for any scenario,
and we fulfill this task 100%," he continued.
The remarks came after Washington said its intelligence assessment showed
that Moscow was stepping up steps toward a potential full-scale invasion,
and had 70% of the strength needed for such an attack.
Russia has amassed 110,000 troops along its border with Ukraine but US
intelligence has yet to determine whether President Vladimir Putin actually
decided to attack, US officials said.
US officials warn that Russian forces converging on the border with Ukraine
are growing at a rate that would give Putin the strength he needs for a
full-scale invasion — about 150,000 troops by mid-February.
US officials say Putin wants to have all possible options: from a limited
invasion of Ukraine's pro-Russian Donbas region to a full-scale all-out
invasion.
They estimated a major attack would leave 25,000 to 50,000 civilians dead,
along with 5,000 to 25,000 Ukrainian troops and 3,000 to 10,000 Russian
troops.
