Russia-Ukraine Standoff – {Every day|Everyday|Day-to-day} Briefing | Jan. 24

High-stakes talks between Russia and the West have {up to now} {didn’t} de-escalate a tense standoff {between your} sides, with {america} warning of a serious risk of a Russian offensive against Ukraine.

{Along with} demanding a ban on Ukraine’s future membership to NATO, {Russia wants the Western alliance to pull back its forces to where {these were} in 1997,|Russia wants the Western alliance to pull its forces to where {these were} in 1997 back,} before eastern European members joined. Moscow has amassed some 100,{000 troops {near to the} border with Ukraine and in annexed Crimea,|000 troops to the border with Ukraine and in annexed Crimea close,} {and its own} announcement of surprise military exercises with neighboring Belarus has fueled tensions further.

NATO and the U.S. have {known as} Russia’s demands “non-starters,” {rather} offering to {open up} a dialogue with Russia on {a bunch} of lesser {problems} {such as for example} missile deployment and {armed service} {workouts}. Moscow has said {that is} unacceptable, and {states} it is awaiting {created|composed} responses from the U.S. on {all of} its {needs}.

Jan. 24: {What you ought to} know today

• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will dial {directly into} a meeting today {along with his} EU counterparts to brief them on his talks last Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov {prior to the} submission of a written {reaction to} Moscow later this week.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had a {telephone call} with European Council President Charles Michel. Zelenskiy’s office reported that the Ukrainian President said “{you should} preserve the unity {of most} EU member states in protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state.”
• {EUROPE} has drawn up {a crisis} 1.2 billion euro {help} {bundle|package deal|deal} for Ukraine. EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen said “this package {can help} Ukraine now {to handle} its financing needs {because of the} conflict,{” and urged {associate} {says|declares|claims} to approve the {support|help} “{as quickly as possible}.|” and urged {associate} {says|declares|claims} to approve the {support|help} soon {as you possibly can} “as.}” 
• NATO has {place} forces on standby in eastern {European countries} and {delivered} planes and ships to {the spot} to “[reinforce] the eastern {section of the|area of the|portion of the} alliance,” {stated|mentioned} NATO Secretary {Common} Jens Stoltenberg.
• The U.S. {{STATE DEPT.} and the {Uk} Foreign Commonwealth and {Advancement|Growth} Office have ordered {personnel|employees} and {groups of} U.|{STATE DEPT.} and the {Uk} Foreign {Advancement|Growth} and Commonwealth {Workplace} have ordered {personnel|employees} and {groups of} U.}S. and {Uk} diplomats in Kyiv to {keep|depart} Ukraine.
• Kyiv condemned the orders for {personnel|employees|staff members} to leave. {A {International} Ministry spokesperson {known as} the withdrawals “premature and a display of {extreme|too much} caution,|The withdrawals were called {by way of a} {International} Ministry spokesperson “premature and a display of {extreme|too much} caution,}” urging Ukrainians and foreigners to “soberly {entry|accessibility|gain access to} the {dangers} and keep {relaxed}” amidst “disinformation,{“manipulation and ”.}” Meanwhile, the EU {offers|provides} {mentioned} it {does not have any} plans to pull {individuals} out of Ukraine {as long as} talks with Russia {carry on|keep on}.
• British {Primary} Minister Boris Johnson warned Russia {dangers} “{a fresh} Chechnya” if it invades Ukraine, cautioning {contrary to the} drawn out {lack of} lives and {financial} sanctions {it could} incur from {this type of} “painful, {bloody and violent business.}”
• Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko {offers|provides} {stated|mentioned} {he’ll} move “{a complete} contingent of the Belarusian army” to the border with Ukraine since “Ukrainians have allegedly {began} to {attract|pull} troops there.”

AFP contributed reporting.