Diplomacy has reached a fever pitch between NATO allies and President Vladimir Putin, with the White House offering the Russian leader two choices: an invasion of Ukraine, with devastating consequences; or a negotiated peace, with what Putin sees as humiliating concessions. Anita Powell reports.

The White House insists there is only one way out of the mounting crisis as Russia continues to amass troops and hold drills along the Ukrainian border — diplomacy.

But after a frenzied weekend of high-level talks between President Joe Biden and the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, an unsettling fact remains: no one knows what President Vladimir Putin’s next move will be.

Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Deputy Press Secretary:

"As we have said before, we are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time. We will not comment on any details of our intelligence information, except to say that it could begin this week. The U.S. is ready for any situation."

Ukraine’s leader on Monday said all signs point to an invasion.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukrainian President:

"We are told that February 16 will be the day of the invasion. We'll make it a day of national unity. The relevant decree has been signed. We will put out national flags, put on yellow-bllue ribbons, and we’ll show our unity to the entire world."

Washington has sent hundreds of millions in military aid to Ukraine, and on Monday ordered the temporary relocation of the U.S. embassy in Kyiv.

Will Pomeranz, acting director of the Wilson Center's Kennan Institute, told VOA that Putin is unlikely to back down.

Putin has demanded that Ukraine be barred from its goal of joining the NATO alliance; the U.S. has dismissed that demand, citing NATO’s open-door policy.

Will Pomeranz, Wilson Center:

"I don't see Putin really having an option to retreat. Because he has put so much at stake during this crisis. And to retreat and kind of say, ‘never mind,’ that's not Vladimir Putin's strategies."

On Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Kyiv, ahead of a Tuesday trip to Moscow, and demanded "clear steps to de-escalate the current tensions."

Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor:

"We are prepared to have a serious dialogue with Russia about questions of European security. NATO and the U.S.A. made proposals to Russia that we support. We now expect a reaction and answer from Russia."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Putin that Russia should stay in the talks.

Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister:

"The readiness for listening to counter-arguments – our possibilities aren't exhausted. Of course, they (security talks) shouldn't continue endlessly, but at this stage, I would propose to continue and increase them (referring to contacts with U.S. and NATO)."

Biden says NATO allies are in lockstep and that Russia will face harsh sanctions if it invades.

It is clear there is no love lost between the formerly united Soviet states. Russia annexed part of Ukraine in 2014 and controls it still.

But in the testy, frigid Ukrainian capital, residents this Valentine’s Day are trying to banish fear with the one force stronger than war: love.

Originally published at - https://www.voanews.com/a/russ....ia-ukraine-tensions-

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