US, Europe declare 'unity' against Russia over Ukraine

SOUNDBITE State Department spokesperson Ned Price says "there is no daylight" between the US and European allies on the severity of the response to any Russian invasion of Ukraine. "And more importantly, the Russian Federation knows that", he added.

President Joe Biden declared "total" unity among Western powers Monday after crisis talks with European leaders on deterring Russia from an attack against Ukraine, while the Pentagon said 8,500 US troops were put on standby for possible deployment to boost NATO.

"I had a very, very, very good meeting -- total unanimity with all the European leaders," Biden told reporters shortly after finishing a one hour and 20 minute video conference with allied leaders from Europe and NATO.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said "it is up to Russia to undertake visible de-escalation," while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned of "severe costs" if there is "any further aggression" by Moscow against Ukraine.

Despite insisting he has no intention of attacking, President Vladimir Putin has deployed some 100,000 troops close to Ukraine, where Russia already seized Crimea in 2014 and backs a separatist army in the east.

The United States and NATO have rejected the Russian demands and told Putin to withdraw from Ukraine's borders, warning that a Russian attack will trigger damaging economic sanctions, as well as a beefed-up NATO presence in eastern Europe.

"What this is about... is re-assurance to our NATO allies," Kirby said. "It sends a very clear signal to Mr. Putin that we take our responsibilities to NATO seriously."

The tension helped fuel instability in global markets, while Russia's main stock index plunged and the central bank suspended foreign currency purchasing after the ruble slumped.

President Emmanuel Macron "thinks there is a space for diplomacy, a path to de-escalation," an aide said, confirming that Macron would speak to Putin "in the coming days."

Washington is trying to maintain transatlantic unity to build a credible threat of sanctions as a deterrence against Moscow.

The new government in EU economic powerhouse Germany in particular has faced criticism from Kyiv over its refusal to send defensive weapons to Ukraine, as well as hesitating over one of the harshest economic sanctions under discussion -- cutting Moscow from the global SWIFT payments system.

However, some European leaders are signaling less alarm.

"You have to stay calm doing what you have to do, and avoid a nervous breakdown," he said.

France told citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the country.

The US-led NATO alliance said members were placing troops "on standby" and sending ships and jets to bolster eastern Europe's defenses, pointing to recent mobilizations by Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands.

The Kremlin accused NATO of "hysteria."

The United States has warned that Moscow could manufacture a "false flag" incident in Ukraine to be able to then frame an invasion as a justified response. 

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Originally published as US, Europe declare 'unity' against Russia over Ukraine