“Security guarantees were promised to Ukraine when we gave up the world’s third largest nuclear arsenal. Now we have neither weapons nor security. However, we have the right to demand that the policy of indulgence be implemented in a way that promotes security and peace, ”Zelensky emphasized.
“I hope no one thinks of Ukraine as a permanent buffer between the Russian Federation and the West. It will never happen. We must not allow that to happen. Otherwise, the question will arise – who’s next?”
“We have lost part of our territory, which is larger than Switzerland, the Netherlands or Belgium,” says Zelensky.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am very grateful to those countries that have supported Ukraine with their words, declarations or concrete support. Those who are on our side, on the side of the truth, on the side of international law.
I don’t name my friends. I do not want some countries to be ashamed. But that’s what they’re doing. That is their thing. It’s their country, their karma, and it’s their awareness that they have to do it. “
President of Ukraine @ZelenskyyUa Speaking at the Munich Security Conference: Ukraine, Europe and the world want peace that can be achieved through diplomatic engagement with all parties. pic.twitter.com/ggIiNrDMFK
– LTV News Service (@ltvzinas) February 19, 2022
Zelensky: The Russian people do not want war
Statements by Western leaders in recent days have shown that a new Russian attack on Ukraine is almost imminent, but Zelensky is calling for panic and still believes a diplomatic solution to the conflict is possible. He has offered to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky has also expressed confidence that the Russian people are not ready to start a war against the Ukrainian people.
Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Foto: ZUMAPRESS.com, Serhii Hudak
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Russia is currently estimated to have drawn at least 130,000 troops from Ukraine’s borders. Despite this concentration of forces, Russia says it does not intend to attack Ukraine. However, observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE, said on Saturday they had seen a “dramatic increase” in ceasefire violations on the front line in eastern Ukraine.
Putin and Lukashenko are watching the training
The Ukrainian government and Russian-backed militant gangs in Eastern Ukraine are exchanging charges of gunfire and other ceasefire violations. The West is concerned that Moscow intends to create an excuse to invade Ukraine. Also on Saturday, the Kremlin’s propaganda machine is in full swing and reports various incidents allegedly caused by the Ukrainian armed forces.
Russian propaganda is paving the way for a new attack on Ukraine
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For example, Russian media report that on Saturday, two shells allegedly fired by Ukrainian forces exploded in Russian territory in the Rostov region near the Ukrainian border. There were also bombings in Luhansk and Donetsk on Friday.
Similarly, Moscow-backed militant-controlled Donetsk intelligence services have obtained a plan for an offensive operation by Ukrainian security forces in Donbass, which Kiev is said to be planning. Ukraine’s intelligence service said on Friday that pro-Russian forces in Donbass were mining infrastructure to blow it up and accuse Ukraine of terrorist acts.
The “People’s Republic” of Donbass announced on Friday the mass evacuation of the population to Russia. RIA Novosti reports that the Rostov region plans to receive up to 900,000 refugees from the Donbass. On Saturday, a “general mobilization” was announced in parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, and men between the ages of 18 and 55 were banned from leaving the Donbass territory.
Russia is still pursuing active military exercises. Putin, along with Alexander Lukashenko, the authoritarian leader of Belarus, watched on Saturday with exercises from the Kremlin to test Russia’s nuclear readiness, test ballistic and cruise missiles, and other weapons. Putin has claimed that the extensive military exercises that have taken place in both Russia and Belarus are nearing completion.
Johnson threatens to turn against Russian money sources
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warns of the catastrophic consequences of Russia’s invasion, urging Europe to commit to “strategic resilience” in its energy policy, diplomacy and military spending.
“We are still not entirely sure what President Putin’s intentions are. But the signs are bleak. That is why we must be strong together.
If Russia invades its neighbor, we will impose sanctions on Russian individuals and companies of strategic importance to the Russian state. And we will make it impossible for them to make money in the London capital markets.
And we will open the matryoshka dolls of Russian-owned companies to find the real beneficiaries. And if President Putin believes that his actions can force NATO to resign or intimidate him, he will face the opposite! ”
Also NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg points outthat the Kremlin will have an even stronger NATO presence on Russia’s borders.
“If the Kremlin aims to have less NATO on Russia’s borders, they will achieve even more NATO. If the Kremlin wants to divide NATO, it will only achieve an even more united alliance, ”Stoltenberg emphasized.
He added that it was not too late for Russia to change course and start working on a peaceful solution.
US Vice President Kamala Harris warns: “Russia continues to say it is ready to negotiate, but at the same time is narrowing the scope for diplomacy. The action does not live up to their word. I will say it directly and with complete certainty: if Russia continues to invade Ukraine, the United States, together with its allies and partners, will impose significant and unprecedented economic sanctions. “
CONTEXT:
Last year, Russia began pulling a contingent of troops off the Ukrainian border, raising concerns about a new invasion of the neighborhood. In December, Moscow issued an ultimatum to the West demanding a halt further enlargement of NATO to the east. Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened that if Moscow does not receive his requests “security guarantees”he will have to implement “military technical measures”.
The United States and other NATO members have stated that these demands are unacceptable and not even negotiable, but have shown readiness to talk about arms control, missile deployment and confidence-building measures. US President Joe Biden has warned Putin that the US will impose unprecedented sanctions on Russia if it attacks Ukraine.
A number of countries called for leave its citizens in Ukraine after the United States warned that a new Russian military invasion of Ukraine could begin soon. At the same time, Western countries are continuing diplomatic efforts to prevent a Russian attack on Ukraine.
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