NATO’s chief says Russia could invade Ukraine ‘with out any warning at all’ as Putin tests missile launches

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has posed the query that is saved the world on edge for weeks: will Russia assault Ukraine?

Not even these within the Russian authorities — in addition to President Vladimir Putin — seem to know the reply, however the reality stays that there was a gentle buildup of Russian troops and navy {hardware} close to the Ukraine border; the biggest for the reason that finish of the Cold War.

“They have all of the capabilities in place, Russia, to launch an assault on Ukraine with out any warning at all. No one is denying that Russia has all these forces in place,” Stoltenberg informed CNBC’s Hadley Gamble at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. “The query is, will they launch an assault?”

Over 150,000 Russian troops are stationed at numerous factors alongside the border with Ukraine. Russian forces have additionally been posted in Belarus, an ally that lies to the north of Ukraine.

Stoltenberg’s feedback got here as Russia’s navy launched ballistic and cruise missiles on Saturday in a present of its nuclear readiness. It was a part of what the Kremlin known as a “deliberate train of the strategic deterrence forces.”

“Aerospace Forces efficiently launched Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles. Ships and submarines of the Northern and Black Sea Fleets launched Kalibr cruise missiles and Zirkon hypersonic missiles at sea and floor targets,” the assertion from the Russian presidency mentioned Saturday.

“The duties envisaged through the train of the strategic deterrence forces have been accomplished in full, all missiles hit their assigned targets, confirming the desired traits.”

“Of course there is no such thing as a certainty about that,” Stoltenberg added. U.S. President Joe Biden has issued numerous warnings that an invasion is imminent, a lot to the mockery of Russia and its allies.

But Stoltenberg added: “NATO allies and the United States have the identical evaluation, that it is a very excessive threat for a Russian assault on Ukraine.”

Russia’s navy mentioned in a press release earlier this week that it was pulling again a few of its troops to mark the top of their workout routines, main markets to breathe a short sigh of aid, however Western leaders stress that there is no such thing as a proof of a real discount in forces round Ukraine.

Also of concern is “the very threatening rhetoric,” the NATO chief added, noting that, “now we have seen makes an attempt by Russia to stage a pretext — the Ukraine state of affairs in Donbas or some place else — as an excuse for attacking Ukraine. We have seen false accusations about genocide, now we have seen accusations of violations of ceasefires in Donbas, and all of this after all provides to the image that it is a actual hazard for a Russian assault.”

The U.S. has accused Russia of plotting to fabricate an attack by Ukrainian forces as a pretext for the invasion of its neighbor. The White House mentioned in early February that it has intelligence Russia is contemplating utilizing a staged video of a Ukrainian assault involving actors.

The Kremlin has denied it’s getting ready any “false flag” operations.

The accusation comes amid a protracted interval of escalated tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with the U.S. and NATO involved in regards to the unfurling geopolitical disaster.

—CNBC’s Holly Ellyatt and Sam Meredith contributed to this report.