Senior US and British officials have stated that Russia may attack its neighbor Ukraine at any moment, with renewed warnings of the repercussions on European security, as satellites showed the movement of Russian forces to offensive positions.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that it is very likely that Putin will take military action without warning, considering at the same time that Putin has not made his final decision yet.

Kirby stressed that until the past 24 hours, Putin increased the military build-up and preparedness for the attack.

He also said that the recent Russian escalation represents a major threat to European security, and that China's support for Russia is very worrying and destabilizing to Europe, as he described it.

Kirby added that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will leave on Tuesday for Brussels to demonstrate his country's commitment to allies.

The Pentagon spokesman explained that the additional US forces that have been pushed into Europe are aimed at reassuring allies.

Kirby saw that Russia was taking action to get Ukraine to retaliate, thus creating a pretext to attack Ukraine.

Kirby had confirmed - during an interview with the American network "CNN" (CNN) - that the Russian attack could happen at any moment, considering that Putin has several options, including large-scale conventional military action, or an attack similar to what happened in the region. Donbass in 2015.


Earlier, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said that recent information indicated that Russia could invade Ukraine at any moment, and urged the Kremlin to de-escalate, and the British Armed Forces Minister stated that the Russian attack could happen without warning.

CNN quoted US intelligence sources as saying that the Russian forces have entered the final preparation stage for the use of the attack.

The US CBS network said that satellite images show the movement of Russian forces from their gathering points to attacking positions.

The New York Times reported that US officials had obtained intelligence that Russia is considering the start of possible military action against Ukraine the day after tomorrow.

But the newspaper quoted - according to a number of officials who were briefed on that information - the possibility that the reference to a specific date was part of a Russian attempt to mislead.

Russian maneuvers

In Moscow, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed President Putin that part of the massive military exercises taking place in the country and Belarus are nearing completion.

Shoigu also informed Putin of the details of forcing a foreign submarine to leave the Russian territorial waters in the east of the country, adding that the extensive foreign military activity in the far east is incomprehensible and unjustified, as he put it.


Quality weapons for Ukraine

On the other hand, Ukraine asserts that it is prepared to resist any attack, and on Sunday received from Lithuania a shipment of US Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, as well as Javelin anti-armor missiles, and Stinger missiles from Latvia will arrive in Kiev.

The three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) announced earlier that they would provide Ukraine with anti-tank missile systems, anti-aircraft and equipment to enhance military defense capabilities in the event of a Russian attack.

The Czech Republic also plans to donate to Ukraine 152 mm artillery pieces with 4,000 152 mm shells.

The US embassy in Kiev announced the arrival of two planes of military aid to Kiev, as part of Washington's support to strengthen Ukraine's defenses.

The Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, at low altitude, are among the latest American-made anti-aircraft, anti-helicopter and anti-drone missiles.

Since 2014, Washington has provided more than $2.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine, and has sent 8 new air shipments of weapons worth $200 million to Kiev, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, lethal munitions, Humvees and radar systems.