White House details 'false pretexts' Russia will use to justify invasion

White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Thursday that Russia is seeking to use a “fabricated pretext” as an excuse to launch an invasion of Ukraine, citing Russian actors who have spread false claims in recent days.

“An attack could come at any time,” she told reporters traveling with President Joe Biden to Ohio. “We believe it’s important that the world be watching for that pretext and that people treat any such claims with the appropriate skepticism, especially when they come from Russian state media sources.”