Joe Biden ‘calls out’ Russian invasion plans as POTUS ‘convinced’ Putin will invade

Mr Biden said he has “reason to believe” it will occur in the coming days and will include an assault on the capital, Kiev. While addressing a press conference on Friday, the 46th US President said: “We have reason to believe the Russian forces are planning to and intend to attack Ukraine in the coming week.

“We believe that they will target Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, a city of 2.8 million people.

“We’re calling out Russia’s plans loudly and repeatedly.

“As of this moment, I’m convinced he’s made the decision. We have reason to believe that.”

Mr Biden also said Russia’s “phony allegations” that Ukraine is planning to attack the separatist-controlled Donbas “defies logic.”

He said: “Look, there is simply no evidence in these assertions and it defies the basic logic to believe that Ukrainians would choose this moment with the world over 150000 troops to reign on its borders to escalate a year-long conflict.”

Mr Biden added at the Friday press conference that there have also been upticks of cease-fire violations in eastern Ukraine.

Russia has been accused of trying to stage a fake crisis in a breakaway eastern region of Ukraine to give it a reason to launch an invasion.

Russian-backed rebel leaders in the Donbas region have announced an evacuation of residents, saying Ukraine had intensified shelling and is planning to attack.

But the Ukrainian government has denied allegations that it is planning an offensive.

Mr Biden continued: “Over the last few days, we have seen reports of a major uptick in violations of ceasefire by Russian back fighters attempting to provoke Ukraine.

“For example, shelling on Ukrainian Kindergarten yesterday which Russia falsely asserts was carried out by Ukraine.

“We also continue to see more and more disinformation being pushed out by the Russian public including Russian-backed separatists claiming Ukraine is planning to launch a massive offensive attack in Donbas.”