Online researchers have identified Russian troops and military vehicles within just ten miles of Ukraine’s borders, increasing the risk that Vladimir Putin could launch a military offensive on short notice. In his earlier remarks Biden seemed to say that if Russia invaded just a small part of Ukraine, the Nato alliance would be divided on how to respond. European capitals have resisted the suggestion that Russia should be cut off from the international electronic payment system, Swift. Russia has denied it plans to invade Ukraine, but it has massed over 100,000 troops along the country’s border. Three sets of talks between Russia, the US, Nato and other European states last week, failed to make any progress.

Source: The Guardian January 21, 2022 14:17 UTC