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Analysts keep coming out that Russia is on the verge of invading Ukraine.
While there are reports that 75% of Russia's main combat units have been deployed forward toward Ukraine, Russia has decided to extend the joint military exercise with Belarus, which was scheduled to end today (21st).
Correspondent Kim Jong-won from New York.
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Russia and Belarus are conducting joint military exercises near Ukraine.
The exercise was originally scheduled to end today, but Russia suddenly announced that it would be extended due to clashes between pro-Russian separatist rebels and Ukrainian government forces in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
Tensions are escalating due to Ukrainian provocations.
The U.S. said Russia was creating an excuse for an invasion with false information, as feared, and said everything was on the verge of an invasion of Ukraine.
[Tony Blincoln/Secretary of State: What we feared would happen prior to the invasion is now happening.
The 30,000-strong Russian force continues without ending the training it was supposed to end today, citing clashes in eastern Ukraine.]
CNN reported that 75% of Russia's main combat units were forward deployed to target Ukraine.
Of the 160 battalion tactics, the mechanized infantry task force of the Russian Army, 120 were deployed within 60 km of Ukraine.
[Lloyd Austin/Secretary of Defense: Probably soon we will see a situation where a sizable Russian fighting force is rapidly advancing towards Kiev (Ukrainian capital).]
Secretary of State Blincoln said he would continue diplomatic persuasion until just before the invasion. President Biden says he is ready to contact Putin.
Last-minute efforts by the West for a diplomatic solution are continuing, with French President Macron talking on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensk.