Biden: Russian invasion of Ukraine remains ‘distinctly possible’

President Biden on Tuesday cautioned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine remains “distinctly possible” as U.S. officials have been unable to verify Moscow’s claims that it is removing some military forces from the Ukrainian border.

“The Russian defense minster reported today that some military units are leaving their positions near Ukraine. That would be good, but we have not yet verified that. We have not yet verified the Russian military units are returning to their home bases,” Biden said in a speech on the long-simmering tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

“Indeed, our analysts indicate they remain very much in a threatening position. And the fact remains right now Russia has 150,000 troops encircling Ukraine … An invasion remains distinctly possible,” Biden continued. “That’s why I’ve asked several times that all Americans in Ukraine leave now, before it is too late to leave safely.”

Biden’s comments underscored the looming threat posed by Russia toward Ukraine, even after Russian officials said they had decided to pull back some troops from the border in a signal that the risk of a military invasion could be averted.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan last Friday ramped up the sense of urgency in warning a Russian invasion could happen before the end of the Winter Olympics on Feb. 20, pointing to the military forces and equipment that had surrounded the Ukrainian border.

Biden spoke over the weekend with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Putin has met in recent days with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as the U.S. and its allies seek a diplomatic off-ramp.

Putin said after his meeting with Scholz on Tuesday that Russia had decided to “partially pull back troops,” even as it maintained its demands for Ukrainian membership in NATO to be off the table.

But, as Biden reiterated in his speech, U.S. officials were still trying to confirm whether Russia had taken a less aggressive posture while pressing for diplomacy to prevail. 

“If Russia does invade in the days and weeks ahead, the human cost for Ukraine will be immense,” Biden said. “And the strategic cost for Russia will also be immense. If Russia attacks Ukraine, it will be met with overwhelming international condemnation. The world will not forget that Russia chose needless death and destruction.”

Updated 4:05 p.m.