In an interview with the BBC, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson states that there is evidence that Russia is planning the biggest war since World War II.
According to Jonson, intelligence indicates that Russia will begin an invasion of Ukraine by encircling the capital Kiev.
– People have to understand how many human lives will be lost if that happens, he says channels.
Also read: US repeats Ukraine warning: Russia can attack at any time
Concerned Secretary of Defense
Here in Norway, too, the authorities are taking the situation seriously. Defense Minister Odd Roger Enoksen (Sp) says that the situation is serious, but he does not agree with Boris Johnson’s view that Vladimir Putin and Russia are planning the biggest war since World War II.
– We can not say that yet, but it is clear that the border between war and peace can be difficult, he says to NRK.
At the same time, the Minister of Defense emphasizes that there is great reason to be concerned.
– It is quite obvious that if Russia decides to invade Ukraine, it will have major consequences for the whole of Europe, Enoksen says to the state channel.
However, there does not appear to be any major military threat to Norway so far.
– We see no increased activity in the north, the Minister of Defense points out.
Also read: Huitfeldt on the Ukraine situation: – Now the ball is in Russia’s court
Russia is currently conducting a major military exercise in the Barents Sea off Finnmark, but Enoksen is not investing too much in the exercise itself.
– I want to emphasize that Russia conducts this exercise almost every year, but usually in the fall. The fact that they have moved it, at the same time as they have this enormous escalation towards Ukraine, demonstrates first and foremost an enormous military power, he says.
On Sunday, explosions were reported in the breakaway republic of Donetsk, according to NRK.
Huitfeldt met with Ukraine’s foreign minister
Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt (Labor Party) has met her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba at the security conference in Munich.
– Norway consistently supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia is responsible for increased aggression in the Donbas and holds the key to a peaceful outcome in this conflict, Huitfeldt writes on Twitter.
Also read: Støre fears it is too late with diplomacy in Ukraine
Both the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Climate and Environment Espen Barth Eide (Labor Party) are participating in the security conference. Minister of Defense Odd Roger Enoksen (Sp) was also supposed to be present, but stayed at home due to the situation.
Open for dialogue
In a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine is open to talking with Russia.
Zelensky told Macron he would not respond to provocations by pro-Russian separatists, according to a statement from the Elysee Palace.
“Informed about the deterioration in the front line, our losses, the shelling of (Ukrainian) politicians and international journalists,” Zelenskyj said of his conversation with Macron.
Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to talk on Sunday to discuss the situation. Macron met with Putin in Moscow last week and has already called him several times about the conflict.
Russia has denied plans to invade Ukraine, but the West, led by the United States and NATO, does not trust it.
Both Joe Biden and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg have expressed great concern that a Russian attack on Ukraine may be imminent.
This weekend, heads of state in the G7 countries, in addition to Stoltenberg, gathered in Munich for a poor security conference where the Ukraine situation has been among the topics.
– We again ask Russia to do what they say, and withdraw the troops from the border with Ukraine. It is not too late for Moscow to turn around, he said Stoltenberg at the security conference on Saturday.
Russian forces will remain in Belarus until further notice
On Sunday, Russia’s military exercises in Belarus were supposed to end, but the Russian forces remain in the country due to the level of tension.
Belarus on Sunday confirmed that Russian forces will conduct several military exercises with their Belarusian counterparts. The decision is due to increased military activity along the countries’ borders and “escalation” in eastern Ukraine.
“The presidents of Belarus and Russia have decided to continue inspecting the preparedness of the Union State’s forces,” Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said in a statement.
The Union state is a supranational structure between the two countries.
(©NTB)
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