Leave, invasion could come any time: US warns Americans in Ukraine

The White House has asked Americans living in Ukraine to leave within 48 hours, warning that Russia could attack anytime.

Americans in Ukraine should leave within 48 hours as Russia could attack at any time, likely with an air assault, the White House said on Friday as Moscow accused Western nations of lying to distract from their own aggressive acts.

The Kremlin, jostling for influence in post-Cold War Europe, rejected a joint Western diplomatic response as disrespectful.

It wants security guarantees including a promise of no missile deployments near its borders, that Kyiv never joins NATO and a scaling back of the alliance's military infrastructure.

The West describes Russia's main demands as "non-starters" but is willing to talk about arms control and confidence-building steps as President Joe Biden's administration said Moscow has more than 100,000 troops massed on the border, enough to invade.

"The risk is now high enough and the threat is now immediate enough," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters.

"If a Russian attack on Ukraine proceeds, it is likely to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians without regard to their nationality."

U.S. intelligence believes a rapid assault on Kyiv was also possible and that Russian President Vladimir Putin could order an invasion before the Winter Olympics end on Feb. 20, Sullivan said, adding it remains unclear whether such a command has been given.