On Sunday, Jake Sullivan, President Biden's national security adviser, shared that the U.S. believes an invasion of Ukraine could be launched by Russia any day. However, they are still hoping for diplomacy to prevail.
Sullivan shared the update on CNN's "State of the Union," adding that Russia could even start an invasion before the end of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
"We cannot perfectly predict the day, but we have now been saying for some time that we are in the window, and an invasion could begin, a major military action could begin by Russia in Ukraine any day now — that includes this coming week, before the end of the Olympics," Sullivan told CNN.
Sullivan explained that Russia's forces have maneuvered and been placed; they think a "major military action" could happen "very soon."
Still, Sullivan added that the work to deescalate the situation diplomatically has not ended.
"We are prepared to continue to work on diplomacy, but we are also prepared to respond in a united and decisive way with our allies and partners should Russia proceed," Sullivan said.
According to an administration official, Russia is believed to have upwards of 100,000 troops near the Ukraine border, and thousands were added as early as this week.
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The U.S. decided on Saturday to remove some of its forces from Ukraine, and President Biden urged Americans in the nation to get themselves out as soon as they could. Sullivan added that the first wave of attacks could kill civilians as it is expected to be an aerial bombardment.
"Those are never as precise as the army — any army — would like them to be. We don't even know how precise the Russian army would like them to be," Sullivan said. "Innocent civilians could be killed regardless of their nationality. It would then be followed by an onslaught of a ground force moving across the Ukrainian frontier. Again, where innocent civilians could get caught in the cross fire or trapped in places they could not move from. So that is why we are being so clear and direct to American citizens that while commercial transport options are still available, they should take advantage of them."
The U.S. embassy in Ukraine has also been mostly evacuated, and Sullivan shared that it is "ready to complete the drawdown ... should that become necessary."
As for what could happen with the mass of Russian troops at the Ukrainian border, Sullivan shared that he doesn't want to play fortune teller.
"I'm not going to handicap what will happen — I cannot sit here today and predict," Sullivan said. "What I can do is make sure we are prepared — and we are prepared. We are prepared to respond immediately and decisively, flanked by our allies and partners, if Russia moves forward. We will defend NATO territory, we will impose costs on Russia, and we will ensure that we emerge from this as the West stronger, more determined, more purposeful than we have been in 30 years and that Russia ultimately suffers a significant strategic cost for military action."
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