US 'confident' in accuracy of intel on Ukraine: Blinken
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The United States claims that its intel on the Ukraine situation is accurate, and it is confident of its info, though the timeframe changed various times.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken greets diplomatic workers at the US embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, January 19, 2022 (Reuters)
Washington is confident in its intelligence about the current situation around Russia and Ukraine that the United States is receiving and making public, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday.
Blinken told Dozhd TV the US was quite positive the information about Ukraine it had is "accurate". And he also asserted that Washington was making this information public to "prevent the war."
The information in question is attempted Western fearmongering that alleges Russia will be invading Ukraine in light of rising tensions between Moscow and NATO over its eastward expansion.
Though Washington is claiming to be confident of the intelligence about the situation there, the United States has changed its timing of when the "invasion" would take place several times.
US ready to respond to 'Russian aggression
Blinken also said his country was ready to counter "Russian aggression" if the situation necessitated the US intervening.
The US diplomat told the broadcaster he was set to find a diplomatic way out of the situation around Ukraine, though the US would respond to any alleged Russian "aggression" if it had to do so.
More on his "diplomatic approach", Blinken said he was meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov next week.
The White House had scheduled the meeting for February 23, but Blinken said it was taking place a day later, on February 24.
He also made the observation that if Kiev, with nearly 3 million residents, is attacked, it would be a disaster. However, the diplomat continued to say the Russian troops would also suffer losses, as Ukrainians would not be "eager to welcome the Russian military."
Official sources had reported that two shells fired from Ukraine fell in Rostov, Russia, and Moscow later initiated criminal proceedings over the shelling.
The Russian Investigative Committee revealed that unidentified men on the Ukrainian territory opened fire Saturday morning on the border areas of the Rostov region using a multiple rocket launcher. No civilian casualties were reported following the incident.
