Amid high tensions with Ukraine, Russia takes action tomorrow

Russia announced it would hold massive nuclear exercises as Western leaders followed efforts Friday to find ways to avoid a new war in Europe amid growing East-West tensions.

The United States has made strong warnings that Moscow can quickly order an attack on Ukraine.

Concerns focused on the unstable front lines in eastern Ukraine, which resulted in the increase in artillery attacks, a child's garden was hit.

The alarm bells for a potential major conflict continued to fall, reflecting the concern raised the day before by US President Joe Biden, who said Washington has not seen signs of withdrawal Russia has promised to do, but rather new troop delocations at the border with Ukraine.

Although Russia claims it is withdrawing part of the troops from extensive military exercises, the Kremlin reminded the world that you have one of the world's largest nuclear arsenals, announcing its nuclear forces exercises this weekend.

On the other hand, NATO allies are strengthening the military presence around Eastern Europe and say the measures are simply for defence purposes and to show unity in the face of Russian threats.

Moscow has denied it is meant to attack Ukraine. In his comments Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov inaugurated the Western warning of an imminent attack, calling it a laughing fraud.

Despite Russian denials, Washington and its allies are concerned that the long separatist conflict that boils in eastern Ukraine could provide an excuse for an attack, though they have not provided details.

At a time when tensions have raised to their highest level since the Cold War, the Russian Army announced that President Vladimir Putin will monitor a comprehensive exercise of the country's nuclear forces on Saturday that will include numerous missile concessions, a strong reminder of the country's nuclear opportunity in the middle of facing the West.

While the Kremlin insists that there are no plans to invade, it has urged the West to keep Ukraine out of NATO and withdraw coalition forces from Eastern Europe, requests rejected by Western allies.

President Biden plans to talk on the phone Friday with transatlantic leaders about increasing Russian military presence and continued efforts to prevent and diplomacy. /voa