So, intelligence reporter Shane Harris, for several weeks, we have been talking about

the prospect of Russia invading Ukraine and starting a war that would have huge implications

for the rest of the world.

What are world leaders trying to do right now to prevent that from happening?

Well, there is not much they feel like they probably can do at this point.

There is an increasing level of confidence, I think, in Washington and London and another

European capitals that Putin is likely to order his troops into Ukraine.

What they are trying to do, though, is through a kind of a flurry of meetings between senior

officials and diplomats, try and see if there is some kind of off ramp they can create

for Russia.

Germany and the United States, together with our allies and partners, are working closely

together to pursue diplomatic resolutions in this situation.

And diplomacy is the very best way forward for all sides, we both agree, including

best for Russia and our view.

The feelings that the diplomatic window is closing and closing very quickly because Vladimir

Putin, with what he is doing with his troops, does not look like somebody who wants to negotiate.

He looks like somebody who is about to start a war.

From the newsroom of the Washington Post, this is Post Reports.

I'm Martin Powers.

It's Monday, February 7th.

Today, as Russian soldiers are edging closer to the Ukrainian border, global leaders are

first scrambling to find a diplomatic exit hatch.

...