Russia tries to shift blame for Ukraine tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin alleged the United States and NATO’s refusal to meet his country’s demands violates European security obligations. At a news conference on Tuesday, Putin criticized the West for stirring up tensions in Ukraine and for ignoring his security concerns. He said Moscow was still open to further diplomatic talks and had no plans to invade Ukraine even though Russia has sent more than 100,000 troops to the two countries’ border.

What is the international community doing? British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Kyiv on Tuesday for scheduled talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Johnson said the U.K., like the U.S., has prepared sanctions for high-ranking Russian elites if Putin starts an invasion. Zelenskyy announced 200,000 armed soldiers are ready to fight Russian troops if they cross the border into Ukraine. He also called on friendly countries to impose sanctions preemptively. The Ukrainian defense minister said the country received a sixth plane from the U.S. with military aid, bringing the American contribution up to 84 tons of ammunition and 500 tons of defense equipment.

Dig deeper: Read Jill Nelson’s report about how the conflict affects missionaries in Ukraine.