Moscow slams reports about 'imminent invasion of Ukraine' as 'disinformation campaign’ against Russia

MOSCOW

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova slammed reports Friday about Russia's "imminent invasion" of Ukraine as a "mass disinformation campaign" against Russia.

"The White House hysteria is more revealing than ever. The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At any cost. Provocations, disinformation, and threats are favorite methods of solving their own problems,” she wrote in a post on her Telegram channel. "Road roller of the American military-political machine is ready to go through people's lives. The whole world is watching how militarism, imperial ambitions denounce themselves. And a propaganda brigade chaired by Bloomberg serving all this."

Zakharova said the position of Western officials "in conditions of a mass disinformation campaign against Russia" is worth a separate mention -- avoiding giving a proper assessment of what is happening, the authorities validate their involvement in "fakes."

"We can talk about the collusion of the authorities of Western countries and the media in order to escalate artificial tension around Ukraine by the massive and coordinated publication of false information in geopolitical interests, in particular, to distract attention from their own aggressive actions," she wrote.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a separate statement that Russian President Vladimir Putin will talk Saturday with his US counterpart Joe Biden at the request of Washington.

"Indeed, the American side has asked for a conversation with President Putin, and tomorrow evening, Moscow time, a conversation between the two presidents is planned. The request was preceded by a written appeal from the American side," he said.

In addition, Putin will also speak to French President Emmanuel Macron as they agreed in a meeting in Moscow on Feb. 8, he said.

The British Foreign Office urged UK citizens on Friday not to travel to Ukraine and those who are there to leave.

Separately, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan claimed Russia can start an invasion of Ukraine at any moment.

He said the US continues reducing its diplomatic staff in Ukraine, prompting the American citizens to leave.