White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan is warning that Russia is closer than ever to invading Ukraine and the outcome will be devastating. On Monday, Sullivan warned that is Russia invades they will likely work to “crush” Ukraine.
The Hill reports:
“We believe that any military operation of the size, scope and magnitude of what we believe the Russians are planning will be extremely violent. It will cost the lives of Ukrainians and Russians, civilians and military personnel alike,” Sullivan said during an appearance on NBC’s “Today” show.
“But we also have intelligence to suggest that there will be an even greater form of brutality because this will not simply be some conventional war between two armies,” he added. “It will be a war waged by Russia on the Ukrainian people to repress them, to crush them, to harm them.”
Approximately 190,000 Russian soldiers have amassed near Ukraine’s borders. Russian officials have claimed that some of their forces are moving away from Ukraine, though the Biden administration has dismissed those assertions.
On Sunday, Russian officials announced that military exercises between Russia and Belarus that were set to end this week will be extended indefinitely.