Contemporary history

Moscow and Kiev have agreed to abide by a "ceasefire" policy during talks in the Normandy format in Paris. After nearly 9 hours of talks, Paris officials described the discussions as a "good signal".

The gathering of Russian troops near the border with Ukraine has raised fears that the Kremlin is planning an invasion of its neighbor Ukraine.

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.

Ahead of the Winter Olympics that is set to begin on February 4 in Beijing, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on Wednesday (local time) suggested that the Olympics could affect Russian President Vladimir Putin's calculations over a possible invasion of Ukraine.

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 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."

France and Germany are ready to pursue dialogue with Russia but if Moscow attacks Ukraine the price will be high, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) said on Tuesday that it had "uncovered a Russian criminal group" that planned to carry out a "series of armed attacks" on the country's territory.

The SSU claims that the group is "coordinated by the Russian special services" and that its goal was to work to "destabilize" Ukraine.

However, the war may, in fact, already commenced, according to a BBC analysis.
British public service columnist Jonathan Marcus points out that "the risk of an all-out war between Russia and Ukraine dominates the headlines.All the obvious questions are being asked. Will Russia attack?"

US President Joe Biden held an 80-minute video conference with several European leaders on the Ukrainian crisis last night, Reuters and AFP reported.

Russia's eventual attack on Ukraine will provoke a fierce response, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced last night.
"We have agreed that any new Russian aggression against Ukraine will have serious consequences," Stoltenberg said on Twitter after an online meeting with Biden and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Great Britain and the EU, Reuters reports.