Ukraine crisis.. London stresses diplomatic solution, Moscow indicates possibility of de-escalation if military support for Kiev stops

Britain stressed, through its Foreign Minister Liz Terrace, that diplomacy is the only solution to the Ukrainian crisis, during her visit to Russia, at a time when Moscow hinted at the possibility of reducing escalation if the military support that Kiev receives from Western countries stops.

Britain has ordered 1,000 of its soldiers to stand ready to provide support in the event of a humanitarian crisis as a result of any Russian attack on Ukraine, ahead of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's visit to NATO leaders and Poland on Thursday.

Johnson is visiting Brussels and Warsaw to stress the need to adhere to the principles of the alliance, and to discuss ways in which Britain can provide military support, with Russia massing its forces near the borders of Ukraine.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said upon her arrival in Moscow that diplomacy is the only way to resolve the crisis, and that Russia must follow this path or face dire consequences.

In Kiev, which received a new shipment of weapons from Britain, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister announced - after receiving his Spanish counterpart - that the situation was still tense, but it was under control, and that diplomacy was continuing to calm tensions.

Decision to leave

For his part, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby stressed that the time is not appropriate to visit or stay in Ukraine, and that American families should make the decision to leave on their own, as needed.

"This is not the time to go to or stay in Ukraine," Kirby said in response to a question by Al-Jazeera correspondent. "We are not saying that making this decision is easy. We understand that and families will have to make these decisions themselves, as appropriate."

The Wall Street Journal quoted US officials and experts as saying that Russia is likely to seize parts of Ukraine, and that the incursion could continue for a long time.

A US official told the newspaper that it was unlikely that the Ukrainian government or the Ukrainian army would fall, as happened in Afghanistan, in the event of a large-scale Russian invasion.

evacuation plan

The newspaper reported that the White House approved a Pentagon plan that would allow US forces in Poland to assist Americans from Ukraine in the event of a Russian invasion.

She explained that the US administration is trying to avoid the chaos that occurred during the evacuations from Afghanistan.

And she added, quoting US officials, that the US forces in Poland will start setting up checkpoints, camps and temporary facilities in preparation for helping the Americans.

For its part, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the possibility of de-escalation in Ukraine by stopping providing all forms of military support to the Ukrainian authorities.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that this can be achieved by withdrawing military advisers and weapons that were provided to Kiev, and stopping joint exercises of Ukrainian and NATO forces.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also warned against reconsidering the terms of the "Minsk Agreement" concerned with settling the crisis in southeastern Ukraine.

Zakharova said in press statements that Washington's desire to reconsider this agreement threatens to destroy the peaceful settlement of the situation in Ukraine.