Ukrainian FM Says Russian Troop Numbers ‘Insufficient’ for Invasion

Ukrainian officials continue to downplay the threat of a Russian invasion as US officials are still clinging to the narrative.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the current number of Russian troops in the region near Ukraine is “insufficient” for a large-scale invasion. “We can say 100 times a day invasion is imminent, but this doesn’t change the situation on the ground,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Washington, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said she believes Russian President Vladimir Putin will order an invasion sometime within the next few weeks.

“I have no idea whether he’s made the ultimate decision, but we certainly see every indication that he is going to use military force sometime perhaps between now and the middle of February,” Sherman said.

Also on Wednesday, the US Embassy in Kyiv warned US citizens in Ukraine to consider leaving the country. The warning said the security situation was “unpredictable due to the increased threat of Russian military action.”

Earlier this week, the US ordered the families of US diplomats in Ukraine to leave the country. The move appeared to anger Ukrainian officials, with Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry calling it “premature and a manifestation of excessive caution.”