Pentagon says Putin could 'move now'

Putin "has enough capability to move now if he wants to," Kirby said.
Putin at his annual press conference
By Madeleine Hubbard

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby on Tuesday warned Americans that Russian President Vladimir Putin is adding to Russian forces surrounding Ukraine, and he could move soon.

Putin is adding "sustainment and logistics," including "field hospitals and doctors and nurses" to support Russian troops, Kirby said, according to VOA News. 

Putin "has enough capability to move now if he wants to," Kirby told reporters. "He could move imminently."

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman last week said that it is likely Putin will wait until after the Olympics before acting.

"I think probably President Xi Jinping would not be ecstatic if Putin chose that moment to invade Ukraine, so that may affect his timing and his thinking," she said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov last week said: "I think this time of course a lot of time will be spent on an exchange of views on international issues, including strategic stability in Europe, security guarantees for Russia, security in Europe and Russia's dialogue with the United States and NATO, and regional problems."

Tensions have been escalating between Ukraine and Russia, especially in recent weeks as U.S. service members have been placed on heightened alert to deploy to NATO allies.