Polina Nickelskaya and Tom Balmforth

DONETSK/MOSCOW (Reuters). Russian strategic nuclear forces staged exercises on Saturday under President Vladimir Putin. Washington claimed that Russian troops advancing near Ukraine’s border were being “poised” to strike and accused them of advancing.

As Western fear of war is growing, G7 foreign ministers said that they have not seen any evidence Russia has reduced its military activities in the region and remain “gravely worried” about the situation.

France and Germany called on all their Ukrainian citizens to flee after Kyiv and Moscow exchanged accusations about new bombings near the border. Lloyd Austin, U.S. Defense Secretary, stated that Russian forces are beginning to move closer to the border.

Austin stated, “We hope that he (Putin), steps back from conflict,” at a news conference held in Lithuania. Austin also said an invasion of Ukraine was unlikely.

Russia ordered the military buildup, while NATO demanded Ukraine not join the alliance. But the Western warnings about Ukraine being invading are ridiculous and dangerous. Moscow claims it’s pulling back but Washington and its allies insist that the buildup continues.

Washington and NATO claim that Moscow’s demands are not starters. However, fears in Ukraine are increasing about Putin’s intentions.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, vented his anger at the Munich security conference. He said that “almost” all of the world’s security systems were broken. He called on the U.N Security Council permanent members, Germany, and Turkey to discuss new security measures for his country.

“The rules agreed to decades ago by the entire world no longer apply,” Zelenskiy declared. These rules are not up-to-date with emerging threats. They are not effective in overcoming them. When you have a problem with your coronavirus, this is the cough medicine.

Zelenskiy heard from David Malpass (President of World Bank) that they were preparing funding of Ukraine up to $350 Million. The bank’s board will consider it by March 31, to fund reforms.

HYPERSONIC & CRUISE MISILES

According to the Kremlin, Russia successfully tested-launched cruise and hypersonic missiles at sea in military exercises of strategic nuclear forces.

Putin watched the exercise on screens together with Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusian leader. This was what the Kremlin called “situation center”.

U.S. President Joe Biden claimed on Friday that Putin was likely to invade Ukraine in the next few days. Austin stated that these exercises had stoked concerns all over the world.

Russian foreign ministers from the G7 called for diplomacy to be pursued and tensions to be de-escalated.

As a start, we expect Russia will implement itsannounced decrease in military activities on Ukraine’s border. The foreign ministers made a statement that they haven’t seen evidence for such a reduction.

Following manoeuvres made by Russia’s military forces over the past four month, including a buildup of troops to the south and north of Ukraine (estimated by West at around 150,000), the nuclear drills were conducted.

U.S.-based Maxar Technologies (NYSE 🙂 reports that new helicopters as well as a battlegroup deployment of tanks and armoured personnel carriers, along with support equipment, have been transferred to Russian sites near the border.

Analysts based in Moscow said that Saturday’s exercises were meant to convey a message to Russia about NATO’s security guarantees.

According to his ministry, Sergei Lavrov told France’s foreign minister that “ignoring Russia’s legitimate right in this region adversely affects both the European continent and the global stability.”

On Saturday, NATO officials also said that they had relocated personnel from Kyiv in order to be safer. Many countries, including the United States, have sent diplomats to Lviv.

ALLEGATIONS OF SELLING

Russian-backed rebels seize a large area of eastern Ukraine. Russia also annexed Crimea in 2014. This happened after Ukrainian protests overtook the pro-Russian leader. According to Kyiv, more than 14,000 have died in conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The leaders of separatist groups in Ukraine’s eastern region have ordered women and children to leave for Russia. They cited the possibility of an attack from Ukrainian forces as the reason, but Kyiv refuted it.

Kyiv and Western leaders claim the Russians plan to make an excuse for invasion by increasing shelling, mobilization and evacuation.

According to Russia’s Tass news agency, two bombs landed near Russia’s border by the FSB security services. According to the report, one of them struck Rostov’s building and no one was injured.

The Ukrainian military claimed Russia fabricated photographs of shells in order to appear Ukrainian. They also said that mercenaries arrived in eastern Ukraine in support of Russian special forces to carry out provocations.

Ukraine’s foreign minister called for an independent international investigation into the allegations in Rostov. The military claimed that two soldiers died in the shelling of pro-Russian separatists east Ukraine.

Explosions were heard in the north of the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, as some residents prepared to leave, a Reuters witness said.

It’s scary. Tatyana (aged 30) said, “I’ve packed everything I can carry”, as she boarded a bus together with her daughter Tatyana (4 years old).

Russian media reported that 10,000 refugees had reached Russia. According to separatist leaders, they plan on evacuating 700,000 people.