US Says Russia Plotting to Fabricate Attack by Ukraine

US accuses the Kremlin of planning a fake strike by Ukrainian forces to use as a pretext to attack Ukraine.

According to The Associated Press, the US accused the Kremlin of a complex conspiracy to stage a Ukrainian military attack that Russia might use as a pretext to launch military action against its neighbour.

According to Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby, the plan involved creating a violent propaganda video with simulated explosions, corpses, and actors portraying mourning.

The US has not presented any evidence to back up its assertions.

According to the Associated Press, declassified material given with Ukrainian officials and European partners in recent days detailed a plot for a phoney attack on Russian territory or Russian-speaking inpiduals.

It was the latest instance of the Biden administration disclosing intelligence findings in a bid to counter Russian disinformation efforts and thwart what the administration claims is Russian President Vladimir Putin's attempt to create the basis for military action.

“We’ve seen these kinds of activity by the Russians in the past, and we believe it’s important when we see it like this and we can, to call it out,” Kirby was quoted as having told reporters at the Pentagon.

According to new data, the Russians may stage military equipment used by Ukraine, including a critical weapon supplied by Turkey, to bolster the plausibility of a phoney strike.

According to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Russia may utilise Turkish-made Bayraktar drones as part of the ruse.

Russia has stockpiled an estimated 100,000 troops near Ukraine in recent weeks.

Last week, US Vice President Joe Biden warned Ukraine's President that Russia could launch military action against his country in February.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned last Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has the capability to conduct a military operation against Ukraine, while also urging Russia to back off.

Austin told reporters that Moscow has been sending forces to Ukraine's border at a "constant and steady pace" for months.

“We don't believe that President Putin has made a final decision to use these forces against Ukraine,” Austin added.

He noted that conflict was not inevitable, adding that there was still time for diplomacy. He said the US remains in “lockstep” with its NATO allies and has “offered Russia a path away from crisis and toward greater security.

Putin has been warned by Biden that an attack on Ukraine would have serious economic ramifications for Russia.

Last week, Trump stated that if Russia invades Ukraine, he will consider personally penalising Putin.

On Sunday, US lawmakers expressed confidence that a sanctions package against Russia, dubbed "the mother of all penalties" by Senator Bob Menendez, will be passed.