WASHINGTON, Jan 19 – President Joe Biden predicted Wednesday that Russia will invade Ukraine, just as the United States launched a fresh effort to resolve the standoff and Moscow continued to mass troops on its neighbor's doorstep, NBC News reported.

“My guess is he will move in, he has to do something,” said Biden during a news conference marking his first year in office, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine.

The declaration from Biden was striking given the escalating tensions there and the continued efforts by America and its allies to find a diplomatic solution.

Biden said Putin “will be held accountable” and has “never have seen sanctions like the ones I promised will be imposed” if Russia makes further moves against Ukraine. He added the U.S. would increase its troop levels in the region, including in Poland, keeping with obligations under the NATO treaty.

But Biden appeared to hedge his threats, distinguishing between a "minor incursion" and a full-blown attack.

"And it depends on what it does. It’s one thing if it’s a minor incursion and we end up having to fight about what to do and not do," Biden added.

If Putin invades, “This is the most consequential thing that has happened in the world since World War II,” said Biden.

Biden offered some of his thoughts on Putin's thinking.

“I think it matters what side of the bed he gets up on in the morning as to what he’s going to do,” he added.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Kyiv this week to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a hastily arranged diplomatic mission that signaled the urgency of the crisis.

Blinken was also set to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva on Friday, even after a flurry of negotiations last week produced no breakthrough and lowered hopes for de-escalation.

With Europe facing one of its greatest security crises since the Cold War, Washington’s warning that a Russian attack could come “at any point” was ringing through the winter air as Blinken arrived on the continent early Wednesday. (nbc/ez)