To Russian denials, America warns of an imminent invasion of Ukraine

THE DRAMA started three months ago with American intelligence leaks showing a huge Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders. It has been unfolding ever since in a flurry of summits, marathon negotiations and constant background chatter on social media. The moment of crisis is approaching. Whether the end is war or detente, today’s suspense can surely not be sustained for long.On February 11th Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, told American citizens that they should evacuate Ukraine within 48 hours. A war, he said, is “likely to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians”, before adding that Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, has not made a final decision. Other Western governments have now issued similar warnings to their citizens. KLM, a Dutch airline, halted its flights to Kyiv on February 12th, and other carriers look set to follow suit in the hours to come. As Western citizens leave, journalists are flocking to Ukraine to arrive in time for a war that the Americans are now suggesting could begin as soon as February 16th.