Washington

Turkey is an indispensable ally, anchored in NATO and an important partner in a region in constant flux, the new ambassador of the United States to Ankara said on Jan. 26.

China has told the United States it wants to keep all countries involved in the crisis in Ukraine calm and avoid escalating tensions, while Washington has called for de-escalation and warned of security and economic risks in the event of Russian aggression, Reuters reports.

US Ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan conveyed to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs the American response to Russia's requests in the field of security, Reuters and TASS reported.

The managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, said there were two reasons for the slowdown in the global economic recovery.

"The first is because the two big drivers of growth, the United States and China, have slowed," she told CNN International.

Covid-19's Omicron variant is creating obstacles to the global economy that will slow growth this year, especially the world's two largest economies, the IMF said.

A possible Russian invasion of Ukraine could be the "biggest invasion" since World War II, given Russia's massive military presence near the Ukrainian border, US President Joe Biden was quoted as saying by the DPA.

The question is whether it is possible for the two great world powers to reach an agreement, i.e. to avoid a conflict, but also whether Serbia will be asked to choose sides if a conflict occurs.

The United States warned Moscow on Tuesday of damaging sanctions, including measures personally targeting Vladimir Putin, as Russian combat troops massing around Ukraine launched new exercises.

Tension appeared to be only increasing, with the White House saying the risk of a Russian invasion of Ukraine "remains imminent."

Ljubljana – Professor Boštjan Udovič criticised Russia and the US for not making efforts to reduce the growing tensions on the Ukrainian border as he commented on the situation for the STA on Tuesday. He labelled the conflict as muscle flexing similar to that witnessed in Georgia in 2008.

At the behest of President Joe Biden, the Pentagon has put about 8,500 U.S.-based troops on high alert, which could be sent to Europe if Russia invades Ukraine, the Associated Press and Reuters reported, quoting Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.