By Yasin Ebrahim
Investing.com -- U.S. President Joe Biden said he was “convinced” that Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine, but added the diplomatic route would remain open up until an attack was launched.
“I'm convinced he [Putin] has made the decision,” Biden said. But “diplomacy is always a possibility until he does [attack Ukraine],” he added.
An attack could be launched in the coming week, or days, the president said, with Ukraine’s capital Kyiv expected to be targeted.
“[W]e have reason to believe that Russian forces are planning to, intend to attack Ukraine in the coming week, the coming days,” Biden said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to meet U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken next week to discuss the Ukraine crisis.
If Russia takes military action before the meeting, however, it "will be clear that they have slammed the door shut on diplomacy," Biden said, warning that Russia "will pay a steep price for doing so."