Speaking via video link to the Australian think tank Lowy Institute on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the world to “show strength” after the annexation of four Ukrainian regions.
Zelenskii then argued that NATO should carry out what he calls “preemptive strikes” to avoid Russian use of nuclear weapons, writes Reuters. However, the president did not go into detail on what he means by “preemptive strike”.
– What should NATO do? They should make it impossible for Russia to use nuclear weapons, Zelenskyy said in the speech, adding:
– I appeal once again to the international community (…) for preemptive strikes so that the Russians know what will happen to them if they use nuclear weapons, he said, according to the news agency.
sea View
– Monstrous consequences
The statements sparked strong reactions in the Kremlin, and in the state news agency Ria Novosti, spokesman Dmitriy Peskov forcefully refutes the Ukrainian president.
– Such statements are nothing more than a call to start another world war with monstrous and unpredictable consequences, Peskov says.
For her part, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, says that “everyone on the planet” should recognize that Zelenskii has become “a monster whose hands can destroy the planet” with nuclear weapons, according to the Russian channel RT.
RASER: Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova of the Russian Foreign Ministry addresses Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. Photo: Olga Maltseva / AFP / NTB
sea View
Reject the nuclear threat
However, Zelensky’s spokesman Serhiy Nikiforov said in a statement that the president “did not invite NATO countries to use nuclear weapons against Russia”.
– You went a little too far with your nuclear hysteria and now you hear nuclear threats even where there are none, he says, according to the Ukrainian online newspaper Pravda.
He adds:
– The president talked about the period up to February 24th. It was therefore necessary to take preventive measures to prevent Russia from starting a war. Let me remind you that the only measures discussed at the time were preventive sanctions, Nikiforov says.
Thoughts: Putin can sacrifice Shoigu
Increase support
Zelenskii has asked for more aid and weapons from the EU on several occasions. Thursday night he called for more weapons and said Ukraine must win the war to protect Europe.
– We need more weapons so that Russian tanks do not advance in Warsaw and Prague, Zelenskii said speaking to the European Political Community (EPF).
sea View
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently said he will increase support for the defense alliance.
– Russia must stop the war it has started. NATO will maintain and strengthen its support for Ukraine as long as necessary, Stoltenberg signed Twitter.
However, he advocated moderation and stressed that while it is important to be on the side of Ukraine, it also other considerations.
Vladimir Putin’s “tragic” birthday
– There is a full-scale war in Ukraine and Russia is also threatening NATO. We must support Ukraine, but we must also avoid a great war. It is much worse if there is a war between Russia and NATO, Stoltenberg said.
However, it was clear that there is a limit.
– President Putin needs to know that if he plans to do to a NATO country what he did to Ukraine, the whole of NATO is there, Stoltenberg says.
