Recently, the situation in eastern Ukraine has become increasingly complex, which has aroused widespread concern in the international community. There has been an uproar in Western countries that "Russia will 'invade' Ukraine." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lashed out at this on the 18th, criticizing Western politicians for spreading the so-called threat that "Russia will invade Ukraine." he called it "propaganda, fake news and fabrication," and pointed out that they were obviously doing this in order to enjoy "the 'pure fun' of accusing Moscow."

According to reports, on the so-called accusation that "Russia will 'invade' Ukraine", Lavrov said in an interview: "I am sure that even casual observers of foreign policy have long been certain that it is all propaganda, fake news and fabrication. Lavrov believes that Western politicians who make such claims just like to do so.

Ukraine's defense minister recently claimed that Ukraine is less likely to assess a large-scale escalation of the security situation. "the Ukrainian army has assessed all the situations and is ready to do so," he said. We will not play down the threat in any way, but we still estimate that the possibility of large-scale escalation and the possibility of a large-scale invasion of Ukraine are very low.

The latest news shows that Russia will hold a strategic deterrent exercise personally directed by President Putin on the 19th. The exercise involves the Russian Air and Space Army, the Southern military region, the Strategic Missile Force, the Northern Fleet and the Black Sea Fleet.

According to CCTV, on February 18, local time, US President Joe Biden will call NATO leaders to discuss the situation in Russia and Ukraine.

Russia's big move, directed by Putin himself.

According to the CCTV news client, Russia will hold an established strategic deterrent exercise personally directed by President Putin on February 19 local time, during which ballistic and cruise missiles will be launched.

It is reported that the purpose of this exercise plan is to inspect the preparations of various military command departments, combat formations, ship crews, and missile delivery devices, and to test the reliability of Russia's strategic nuclear weapons and non-nuclear weapons.

The exercise involves the Russian Air and Space Army, the Southern military region, the Strategic Missile Force, the Northern Fleet and the Black Sea Fleet.

Recently, the United States, Ukraine and NATO claimed that Russia was "invading" by assembling a large number of troops near Ukraine's eastern border. The Russian side denied it and stressed that NATO activities threaten Russian border security and that Russia has the right to deploy troops within the country to defend its territory.

Kremlin spokesman Peskov said that despite growing political tensions, he and Russian President Vladimir Putin slept well at night, according to the TASS news agency quoted by the World wide Web.

According to reports, a reporter asked Peskov how the Russian side informed Putin of the situation in southeastern Ukraine and whether there were channels to help Putin monitor the situation 24 hours a day. In this regard, Peskov said: "the Russian president has many sources of information to help him sort out the actual situation." He made it clear that the head of state could "receive appropriate reports from the appropriate departments in a timely manner".

The situation in Ukraine is tense, Russian and US defense ministers are on the phone.

On 18 February, there was a new situation in eastern Ukraine.

For its part, the United States asked Russia to issue a statement that it "will not invade Ukraine." According to the World wide Web, Agence France-Presse reported that the US government urged Russia to issue a statement that "it will not invade Ukraine." For some time before this, the United States has been exaggerating that Russia will launch an invasion of Ukraine on February 16, but this did not happen on February 16.

According to Agence France-Presse, US President Joe Biden once again exaggerated that Russia may launch an attack on Ukraine "in the next few days". In a speech at the White House on the 17th local time, US President Joe Biden once again declared that "all signs" showed that Russia was ready to invade Ukraine. He also said that he had no plans to call Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The news came shortly after RIA Novosti reported that Russia expelled Gorman, the deputy US ambassador to Russia. In addition, US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan left after staying at the Russian Foreign Ministry for about 15 minutes on the 17th.

Russian media said that Sullivan did not answer the reporter's question about the purpose of the visit, nor did he confirm whether he had received a reply from the Russian side on the issue of security. It is said that the US Ambassador to Russia Sha went to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs this time. Russia may transmit its reply on the security issue to it.

According to CCTV news, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu spoke on the phone with US Defense Secretary Austin on the 18th local time. It is reported that the call was initiated by the United States.

On the Russian side, Putin chaired a meeting of the Russian Security Council, focusing on the situation in Ukraine. According to CCTV news, on February 18, local time, Peskov, press secretary of the Russian President, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin presided over a meeting of the Russian Security Council on the same day.

The main topic of the meeting was the development of Russia's high-tech field. The meeting also focused on the tension in Ukraine. Peskov stressed that this tension is caused by external factors. In addition, members of the meeting also exchanged views on security issues. Putin briefed the Security Council on his meetings and telephone conversations with some foreign leaders this week.

In addition, CCTV News reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held talks in Moscow on the 18th local time. Putin said that the leaders of the two countries will discuss the regional situation and assess the results of military cooperation. At present, Russian-Belarusian military exercises are under way. On the 19th, the presidents of the two countries will jointly participate in an important event in military cooperation.

Lukashenko said that if all goes well, he will attend and personally participate in an interesting event with Putin on the same day. Russian media generally interpret this as the leaders of the two countries will jointly participate in strategic missile and cruise missile launch exercises. Russian media have previously reported that on February 19, Russia will hold an established strategic deterrent exercise personally directed by President Putin, during which intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles will be launched.

On the Ukrainian side, the Ukrainian Defense Minister said it was unlikely that Ukraine would assess a large-scale escalation of the security situation. According to CCTV news, Ukrainian Defense Minister Leznikov said that Ukraine has assessed all possible situations, and the result of the current assessment is that the possibility of a large-scale escalation of the security situation is low.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Leznikov made the above statement at the Ukrainian Parliament (Supreme Rada) on the same day. "the Ukrainian army has assessed all the situations and is ready to do so," he said. We will not play down the threat in any way, but we still estimate that the possibility of large-scale escalation and the possibility of a large-scale invasion of Ukraine are very low.

United Nations Security Council calls on relevant parties to exercise restraint

According to the CCTV news client, the UN Security Council discussed the current situation in Ukraine on February 17, local time, and UN under-Secretary-General for political and peacekeeping Affairs DiCarlo gave a briefing. She mentioned that the United Nations had taken note of new reports of ceasefire violations on the line of contact over the past few hours and, if true, could not escalate the situation, and she called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint.

DiCarlo said that the world could not accept the possibility of a new conflict in Ukraine and called on all parties to resolve the situation in Ukraine through diplomatic mediation.

At the meeting, Zhang Jun, permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, expounded China's position on the current situation in Ukraine and stressed that the settlement of the Ukrainian issue should return to the original point of implementing the New Minsk Agreement.

Zhang Jun said: the New Minsk Agreement is a basic political document recognized by all parties and binding on the settlement of the Ukrainian issue, and approved by Security Council Resolution 2202, it should be fully and effectively implemented by all parties concerned. To resolve the Ukraine issue, we still need to return to the original point of implementing the New Minsk Agreement. China hopes that all parties concerned will show a constructive attitude, resolve the differences in the implementation of the New Minsk Agreement through dialogue and consultation, formulate a road map and timetable, promote the implementation of the agreement as soon as possible, and create conditions for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

Zhang Jun said: under the current situation, all parties concerned should remain rational, adhere to the general direction of political settlement, and refrain from doing anything to stimulate tension or exaggerate the crisis. All parties should properly resolve their differences through consultations on an equal footing on the basis of fully considering each other's reasonable security concerns and mutual respect.

Zhang Jun said that China supports all efforts conducive to easing tensions and notes that Russia has recently carried out diplomatic contacts with France, Germany and other European countries at the leadership level. The negotiation of a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism will lay a solid foundation for the realization of lasting peace and stability in the European region. China believes that European countries will make independent strategic decisions in line with their own interests. China also supports the mediation efforts made by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to ease tensions.

In addition, on February 18, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference that the release of war smoke bombs should not be used as a bargaining chip for a political solution to the Ukraine issue.

On the afternoon of February 18, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin held a regular press conference. A reporter asked: on the 17th, local time, US Secretary of State Abraham Lincoln said in a speech at the UN Security Council that US intelligence shows that Russia has embarked on the road of war and plans to attack Ukraine in the next few days. He also said that the United States shared the above intelligence to prevent war rather than start it. Do you have any comment on this?

Wang Wenbin said that the credibility of US intelligence agencies has been tested on issues such as Iraq and Ukraine. I would like to emphasize that the political solution to the Ukraine issue cannot be based on the release of smoke bombs of war, the threat of pressure from sanctions, nor the means of inciting group confrontation against the group. All parties should, on the basis of the New Minsk Agreement, properly address the legitimate security concerns of all parties, including Russia, through dialogue and negotiations, and promote a comprehensive settlement of the Ukrainian crisis and related issues.