Russian invasion of Ukraine probable within next two days: White House

WASHINGTON — The United States has warned that Russia might invade Ukraine at any time. As Russia’s military footprint near Ukraine grows, more US troops are being deployed to Poland.

All Americans in Ukraine are being urged to evacuate within the next 24 to 48 hours, according to the White House.

President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone for about an hour this evening, as tensions swirl around Ukraine.

The rich culture and patriotic pride of Ukraine are strongly represented in Chicago’s Near West Side neighbourhood, where residents’ minds are increasingly occupied with the mounting international tensions surrounding their homeland.

Russian forces are still amassing around Ukraine’s borders, raising fears of a full-scale invasion.

“I’m concerned. I’m frightened every second because I’m constantly wondering about what my 84-year-old mother will do. … Not only my mother, but the rest of my family still resides there. There’s a part of my history there,” Maria Klimchak, curator of the Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago, was quoted as saying by abc7Chicago.

It is because of this background, Ukrainian Americans claim, that they are especially able to withstand such pressure.

Ukrainian descendants half a world away feel compelled to translate a vital international message.

“Fear isn’t the real focus,” Myron Lewyckyj, owner of Tryzub Ukrainian Kitchen, said, remarking, “How can we get the message out to the rest of America that Ukraine is deserving of American support and assistance?”

In Chicago, there are about 200,000 Ukrainian Americans. People here claim that getting family members visas to come to the United States isn’t really a possibility right now because the embassy in Ukraine’s capital is essentially shuttered.