White House and U.S. Department of State Officials are warning that a Russian attack on Ukraine appears increasingly likely, as Russia continues to amass troops along the border of Ukraine, in defiance of diplomatic efforts. “We are now at a stage where Russia could, at any point, launch an attack in Ukraine,” said White House Press Secretary Jen Paski during a press briefing on Monday.
Also speaking on Monday, a senior official with the U.S. State Department accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of shirking diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions, and instead attempting to create a “crisis by amassing 100,000 Russian troops along Ukraine’s borders.” The State Department has accused Russia of engaging in a “show of strength designed to cause or give false pretext for a crisis as Russia plans for a possible invasion.”
Echoing the message of the White House, the State Department warned, “This is extremely dangerous. We are now at a stage where Russia could, at any point, launch an attack on Ukraine.”
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken is scheduled to meet, in-person, with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Ukraine, on January 19th. In an abundance of caution, due to escalating tensions, the State Department indicated that Secretary Blinken “will also meet with the employees and families of the U.S. Embassy [in Kyiv] to communicate the Department’s efforts to plan for contingencies, should Russia choose to escalate further.”
On January 20th, 2022, Secretary Blinken is scheduled to fly to Berlin, Germany, where he is expected to discuss “joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
The White House indicated a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation is on course to meet with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. Speaking to the Associated Press, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, of New Hampshire, said: “Our bipartisan congressional delegation sends a clear message to the global community: the United States stands in unwavering support of our Ukrainian partners to defend their sovereignty and in the face of persistent Russian aggression.”
On Monday, a senior official with the State Department has emphasized that “the United States does not want conflict. We want peace. President Putin has it in his power to take steps to de-escalate this crisis so the United States and Russia can pursue a relationship that is not based on hostility or crisis.”
Increased turmoil in the world, including the present Russia-Ukraine tension, highlights the disciples’ question of Jesus, as posed in Matthew 24:3, “…what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Jesus explained in Matthew 24:6-8 that “the beginning of birth pains,” of the Second Coming, would include, among other things, “wars and rumors of wars” as well as geopolitical unrest, in which “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”
The Russia-Ukraine conflict points to increasing geopolitical unrest in the world, particularly in Eastern Europe.
Bible prophecy teacher, Amir Tsarfati, recently emphasized that Russian President Putin has recently struck fear within Europe by strategically placing Russian troops in locations to surround and “threaten Ukraine from all sides.”
Tsarfati underscored that Europe is experiencing increased rumors of wars, commenting that Russia’s recent placement of soldiers, particularly in Belarus, has caused “panic in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, all the Baltics.”
“[I]t’s 2022 and the fear in Europe is that Russia is going back to become the Soviet Union,” observed Tsarfati, the Founder and President of Behold Israel.
In December 2021, Russia escalated global tensions, according to Tsarfati, when it proposed treaties presented to both the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Tsarfati explained that the proposed draft treaties seek to force America to “give up its alliance with Europe,” and dismantle NATO, by stripping from NATO “all the former countries that were part of the USSR,” said Tsarfati.
“Russia is about to make a major move,” warned Tsarfati, explaining that Russia is “taking advantage of the situation, now that America is at its weakest spot.”
Despite increasing turmoil, including rumors of wars, the Believer should not become fearful. Instead, we should heed the exhortation of Jesus, recorded in Luke 21:28, “When all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”
