White House says Russia could invade Ukraine 'any day now'

Any American still in Ukraine was urged to leave "as soon as possible" within the next 48 hours
Russian tank in the Western Military District
By Natalia Mittelstadt

Americans should "immediately" leave Ukraine as Russia could invade the country "any day now," the White House said Friday.

Though it was previously expected that Russia would hold off on the invasion until after the Beijing Olympics ended, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said an attack "could begin during the Olympics."

"Any American in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible, and in any event in the next 24 to 48 hours," Sullivan said during a press briefing.

President Biden is scheduled to have a call Saturday with Russia President Vladimir Putin.

"If Russia proceeds, its long-term power and influence will be diminished, not enhanced, by an invasion," Sullivan said.

"It will face a more determined transatlantic community. It will have to make more concessions to China. It will face massive pressure on its economy and export controls that will erode its defense industrial base, and it will face a wave of condemnation from around the world."

Earlier on Friday, Biden had a call with several NATO leaders regarding Russia's escalation along its border with Ukraine.

NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is the Western alliance of countries that Putin contends is trying to push its influence on Ukraine and other countries surrounding Russia, prompting his threat of an invasion. 

"The leaders agreed on the importance of coordinated efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, including their readiness to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia should it choose military escalation, and to continue reinforcing the defensive posture on NATO’s eastern flank," according to a White House readout of the call.

As Russia has stationed more than 100,000 troops along the Ukrainian border, NBC News reported that a senior Defense Department official says Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered an additional 3,000 U.S. troops to be deployed in Poland over the weekend. This would add to the 2,000 that already deployed to Europe earlier this month.