CNN —
Biden administration officials have privately urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky not to leave Ukraine and visit Munich on Saturday given concerns about a possible incursion from Russia, according to three US officials and one senior Ukrainian official.
Some US officials are concerned that him leaving the country could open the door for Russia to make false claims that he has fled. While officials haven’t explicitly asked Zelensky not to make the trip – and have been careful to make it clear that it’s up to him – those concerns have been communicated, one of the officials said.
Top US officials have been publicly sounding the alarm that an invasion from Russia into Ukraine is “imminent,” saying evidence shows that Russia has continued amassing forces and equipment at Ukraine’s border, despite Moscow’s claims it is withdrawing troops. President Joe Biden told reporters on Friday that the US believes Russian forces intend to attack Ukraine “in the coming week” or sooner.
Asked if it would then be wise for Zelensky to leave his country, Biden said “that’s a judgment” for the Ukrainian leader to make.
“In the pursuit of a diplomatic solution, it may – may be the wise choice. But it’s his decision,” the President said at the White House, adding that he’s spoken to Zelensky at least a dozen times.
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