Blinken proposes bold move at the UN to avert Russian invasion of Ukraine.

• At the United Nations, Secretary of State Antony Blinken presented a dire outlook on the potential consequences of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, warning of the devastating actions that Moscow's forces could take.
• Nearly 3 million people reside in Kyiv, which Blinken warned could be targeted by Russian forces through missiles and cyberattacks, resulting in crippling the country.
• He stated that he was present not to initiate conflict but to avert it.

At the United Nations, Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave a grim assessment of what Russian forces could do to Ukraine if an invasion occurs.

Blinken stated in his U.N. Security Council address that although we are uncertain about the specifics of how events will transpire, we can anticipate certain outcomes. In reality, these outcomes are already occurring.

According to the statement, Russian missiles and bombs will be dropped across Ukraine, jamming communications and causing cyberattacks to shut down key Ukrainian institutions. Following this, Russian tanks and soldiers will advance on pre-identified and mapped-out targets, which are believed to include Ukraine's capital Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million people.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield requested that Blinken, who was traveling to Munich with Vice President Kamala Harris, fly to New York instead.

Thomas-Greenfield requested Blinken address the international forum because the drumbeat of war was sounding louder, as she told reporters on a call Thursday morning.

Thomas-Greenfield stated on the call that our objective is to emphasize the severity of the situation. The evidence indicates that Russia is approaching an imminent invasion. This is a pivotal moment, and Blinken will convey to the world that we are taking all necessary measures to prevent a war.

Pro-Russia separatists were accused by Ukraine of attacking a village near the border during the unfolding diplomatic developments.

Blinken urged Russia to de-escalate immediately, stop aggression, and engage in dialogue and diplomacy.

Blinken reiterated Austin's statement from earlier Thursday at NATO headquarters in Brussels, emphasizing that his presence was not to initiate conflict but to avert it.

Defense ministers met with Austin for two days, and he stated that the U.S. and NATO allies prefer a diplomatic resolution to the crisis on Ukraine's borders, with Russian President Vladimir Putin being the preferred option.

As we have said all along, we would welcome dialogue with Mr. Putin, as he has stated that he wants to engage in more of it.

According to Austin, it will be evident to the global community that we initiated a war through diplomatic means. Putin will be held accountable for the resulting suffering and sacrifices. Austin urged Putin to withdraw his troops from Ukraine's borders.

For months, the U.S. and its Western allies have observed a growing number of Kremlin troops amassing near Ukraine's border with Russia and Belarus. This military buildup mirrors Russia's strategy prior to its 2014 annexation of Crimea, a Black Sea peninsula, which led to global outrage and economic sanctions against Moscow.

The Russian government has stated that the deployment of its troops with advanced military equipment near Ukraine's borders is not an indication of an impending invasion.

This week, President Biden stated that the US is ready to safeguard NATO allies amid the escalating conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

The United States will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full force of American power. An attack against one NATO country is an attack against all of us, as per the alliance's collective defense rule known as Article 5, as stated by Biden.

Washington will rally the world if Russia proceeds, and its allies are prepared to impose powerful sanctions that will weaken Russia's economic and strategic competitiveness, Biden stated Tuesday afternoon.