with France seeking to usher both sides down a"path to de-escalation".
France, which floated ideas for a"de-escalation" on Monday and is keen for Europe to try to solve the crisis, is hoping that Russia is prepared to engage in talks at a time when it has massed 100,000 troops on Ukraine's border. The United States believes that Mr Putin remains poised to use force against Ukraine by mid-February, a top diplomat said on Wednesday.
“We all are aware that the Beijing Olympics begin on Feb 4, the opening ceremony, and President Putin expects to be there,” Ms Sherman told the Yalta European Strategy forum. “I think that probably President Xi Jinping would not be ecstatic if Putin chose that moment to invade Ukraine, so that may affect his timing and his thinking.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
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