Moscow has signaled it is willing to continue talks with the West to ease a crisis over Ukraine as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz embarked on another round of diplomacy with a visit to Kyiv, saying there was "no reasonable justification" for Russia's buildup of troops in border areas that many fear could be preparations to invade its neighbor.
Scholz met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for two hours on February 14 and urged Russia to take immediate steps toward reducing the tensions triggered by its amassing an estimated 130,000 soldiers near the border with Ukraine, adding that the Kremlin should accept offers to discuss European security.
Speaking in a televised meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that, while Moscow has "warned more than once" that negotiations can't be "endless," he also indicated there was still space for diplomacy to defuse the crisis. Putin is to meet Scholz on February 15.
"It seems to me that our possibilities are far from exhausted.... At this stage, I would suggest continuing and building them up," he responded when Putin asked if there was a chance of an agreement to address Russia's security concerns.
SEE ALSO: 'An Explosive Situation': Open-Source Monitors Say Russia's Military Buildup Near Ukraine Is 'Unprecedented'The White House has said Russia may be planning to invade Ukraine "any day now," and Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on February 14 that Russia continues to add “more military force and capability near Ukraine's border with each passing day.”
Kirby told MSNBC that the military buildup continues to grow stronger and more ready.
“They're exercising, so we believe that he has a lot of capabilities and options available to him should he want to use military force," Kirby said, adding that the U.S. has also not ruled out potential cyberattacks from Russia.
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'All Will Be Good. And If Not, We'll Fight.' Kyiv Residents Keep Calm Amid Russian Attack Expectations
Russia says it has no plan to invade Ukraine, but at the same time wants guarantees on European security issues, including a commitment by NATO not to expand to countries like Ukraine, or another former Soviet republic, Georgia.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, would continue to pursue its goal of NATO membership despite Russia's anger and skepticism from some Western countries over the move.
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Zelenskiy said later in an address to the nation posted on Facebook that authorities in Ukraine and Ukrainians themselves understand all the challenges they face and expressed confidence in the military, saying it is prepared to respond to all possible forms of aggression.
“We clearly know where the foreign army is near our border, its number, its locations, equipment and its plans,” he said.
Zelenskiy also said he signed a decree declaring February 16 -- the day that he said Ukraine has been told would be the day of attack -- as a day of unity.
"On this day, we will hang national flags, wear blue and yellow ribbons, and show the world our unity. We have only one European aspiration -- we want freedom and are ready to fight for it," Zelenskiy said.
Earlier on February 14, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson echoed U.S. warnings that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could be imminent and urged Moscow to step back.
"We are on the edge of a precipice but there is still time for President Putin to step back," Johnson said.
He also reiterated that Russia's demand that Ukraine be refused NATO membership cannot be accepted by the West.
"I think it is very important that we have a conversation. But what we can't do is trade away the sovereign rights of the Ukrainian people to aspire to NATO membership... you can't bargain that away -- it is for the Ukrainian people," Johnson said, adding he would be talking to U.S. President Joe Biden "very soon" to help the diplomatic process.