Nandita Bhose

MUNICH (Reuters – U.S. vice president Kamala Harris is due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymr Zilenskiy on Saturday in Munich. The meeting is likely be a significant diplomatic gesture of support for the European country, a day following President Joe Biden’s declaration that he believes Russia made a decision “convinced” to invade Ukraine.

According to senior U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity, Harris will deliver an anticipated speech warning Russia about an imminent invasion. It will warn it that Russia will likely have an even larger NATO footprint and will be facing huge financial consequences if it invades Ukraine.

The official explained that her message would make it clear that America is still open to diplomacy, “even at this very late hour,” despite Biden’s and other administration officials warnings about the limited window of diplomacy.

Harris met with NATO Secretary General Jens Sloltenberg, and three leaders of the Baltic countries, and stated that Russia should show its openness to diplomacy while urging unity within NATO’s 30-member alliance, and warning Moscow about severe consequences for invading Ukraine.

Biden spoke earlier in the day and stated that Putin had decided to invade Ukraine. He continues spreading false information in order to create a pretext to launch a military strike.

Russia has stated that it does not intend to invade Kyiv and has accused the West of hyperventilation. Moscow-backed separatists told civilians on Friday to abandon the regions that they control by taking buses. This is an attempt to justify an attack, according to the West.

Russian Defense Ministry said Friday that Putin will oversee nuclear exercises involving cruise and ballistic missile launches. Senior U.S. officials called this decision “escalatory, and regrettable.”

When asked if America is worried about Zelenskiy’s decision to travel tomorrow to Munich, the top administration official replied, “No. It’s his decision. His decision is up to him.

Biden responded to the same question by saying “that’s an assessment for him to reach.”

According to Zelenskiy, he has stated that despite Russia’s threats to strike his country, it is unlikely. This was a response to Moscow’s attempts to inflict Ukraine and create panic.