The US State Department said that it is in the process of temporarily transferring the operations of its embassy in Ukraine from Kiev to Lviv in the west of the country due to the significant acceleration in the mobilization of Russian forces, while Moscow seeks to continue consultations with the West on security guarantees.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said - in a statement - that the transfer of embassy operations does not indicate any reduction in US support for Ukraine, stressing that the embassy will continue to work with Kiev to coordinate diplomatic work there, and Washington will continue its intensive diplomatic efforts to calm the crisis.
Blinken indicated that the course of diplomacy will remain available if Russia chooses dialogue in good faith, and that the US administration will remain in contact with the Russian government after the call of US Presidents Joe Biden and Russian Vladimir Putin, and his talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Reuters quoted Blinken as saying that the US government is offering Ukraine a loan of about one billion dollars to support its economy amid the Russian buildup on the border.
Meanwhile, the US CBS channel quoted a US official as saying that satellite images showed the movement of Russian forces from their gathering points to offensive positions near the border with Ukraine.
The United States recommended - in a statement - its citizens in Belarus to leave immediately due to the increasing Russian military buildup on the Belarusian border with Ukraine.
The US State Department also warned its citizens not to travel to Moldova due to the unusual and alarming Russian military activity in the region, according to the statement.
Several Russian options
For his part, US Defense Department spokesman John Kirby reiterated that the Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen at any moment, and revealed during an interview with CNN, that the Russian president has several options, including extensive conventional military action. Scope, or an attack similar to what happened in the Donbass in 2015.
Kirby welcomed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's suggestion that there was hope for diplomacy to resolve the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
Kirby added - at a press conference in Washington - that he does not believe that Russia has made a final decision on the invasion of Ukraine.
However, White House deputy spokeswoman Karen Peer said that Russia is still amassing more troops on its border with Ukraine, and Peer added - during the daily White House press conference - that there are expectations that the Russian invasion of Ukraine will begin this week.
Pierre stressed that the United States' efforts are focused on preventing a war in Eastern Europe, but it remains prepared for all possibilities.
In the context of talking about supplies and the continuous build-up, the Polish Defense Minister said that 8 American combat planes have arrived in Poland.
Kiev has sent a list of demands to Berlin that includes anti-aircraft and anti-drone missile systems, electronic tracking systems, night vision equipment and ammunition, according to German media.
But a German government source said Berlin was ready to consider Ukraine's demand for night-vision equipment only.
On the other hand, Reuters quoted Western security sources as saying that Russian mercenary forces have strengthened their presence in Ukraine in recent weeks.
An American team
On the other hand, The Washington Post quoted US officials as saying that the White House had established a specialized team since last November called the "Tiger Team" as part of its response to the possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The team includes the National Security Adviser, Director of Strategic Planning, and senior officials from the Departments of Defense, State, Energy, Treasury, and Homeland Security.
The officials explained that the team's goal is to develop effective US action plans and manuals that are ready to be implemented when needed.
They added that the team conducted two exercises on the scenarios of the American response to the Russian measures, starting from the moment of the attack and for a period of two weeks.
The team also took measures to counter Russian propaganda and expose Moscow's plans before implementing them, according to what the Washington Post quoted officials as saying.
Russian responses
On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin asked his Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to continue consultations with the West on the main issues that raise Russia's concerns in the field of security, within a specific time limit.
Lavrov told Putin that Russia's response to the responses of the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formulated on security guarantees, and opportunities for dialogue on them.
Lavrov stressed that Russia has no intention of talking to the West indefinitely about security demands, but the dialogue must continue now, he said.
In a separate meeting with the Russian president, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that some maneuvers will end soon, and preparations are underway to end others.
Shoigu informed President Putin of the details of forcing a foreign submarine to leave Russian territorial waters in the east of the country.
He pointed out that the extensive foreign military activity in the Far East is incomprehensible and unjustified.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the abandonment of diplomacy in the Ukraine crisis as a "jumping off abyss", and Guterres called on all parties to stop inflammatory rhetoric and move towards a peaceful solution to the crisis.
joining NATO
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed Ukraine's desire to join NATO amid Russian demands for guarantees that the alliance will not allow its neighbor to become a member.
Zelensky said - in a press briefing with German Chancellor Olaf Schulz - that this would ensure Ukraine's security and territorial sovereignty.
Zelensky called for the use of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as a geopolitical weapon, and in a letter to the nation of Ukraine he called for Ukrainians to show cohesion.
Zelensky accused Russia of waging what he described as a war on his country on all fronts, but stressed that Kiev seeks peace and resolves all issues through dialogue.
German Chancellor Schulz confirmed his country's support for Ukraine in several areas, and revealed the preparation of a possible Western sanctions package against Moscow.
The German chancellor called for a dialogue under the umbrella of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to resolve all issues related to security guarantees for both Russia and the West, stressing that Europe does not need a new war.