All signs indicate Russia plans ‘full-fledged’ attack on Ukraine- NATO chief

Several Western countries have already moved diplomats from Kiev to Lviv, located near the border with Poland, in anticipation of Russian military action

MUNICH, GERMANY The signals coming out of Russia suggest that Moscow is readying for a “full-fledged attack” on Ukraine, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Saturday, echoing US warnings of an imminent invasion.

“Every indication indicates that Russia is planning a full-fledged attack against Ukraine,” Stoltenberg told German broadcaster ARD on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. “We all agree that the risk of an attack is very high.”

“No troops are being withdrawn, as Russia says, but new troops are being added,” he said.

He said there were also indications that Russia was preparing to create a pretext for an attack.

His comments came as NATO relocated Ukraine staff from the capital Kyiv to Lviv in the west of the country and to Brussels for safety reasons.

“The safety of our personnel is paramount, so staff have been relocated to Lviv and Brussels. The NATO offices in Ukraine remain operational,” A NATO official said on February 19, without giving any details on the number of staff relocated.

The move comes amid growing concern that Moscow could launch an attack on Ukraine.

NATO and allied countries were monitoring and assessing the situation very closely, according to the official, and continue to take all the necessary measures.

The U.S., Britain, and several other Western countries have already relocated their embassy operations from Kyiv to the western city of Lviv out of concern for the safety of their staff.