the ukrainian president, Volodomir Zelenskyurged Western powers on Saturday to unrestrictedly defend his country against a possible invasion of Russiawhich tested nuclear-capable missiles near the border.
“Everyone must understand that it is not charitable contributions that Ukraine requests. It is his contribution to the security of Europe and the world, where Ukraine has been the shield for eight years,” Zelensky told a security forum in Munich, Germany.
Since 2014, Kyiv faces a rebellion of pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country and the Russian annexation of the Crimean peninsula. Tension has skyrocketed on its eastern border, where Russia It would have 190,000 troops for a hypothetical invasion, according to Washington.
Incidents are growing in that area, according to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), whose observers recorded more than 1,500 violations of the ceasefire in that region in 24 hours, a record so far this year.
Separatist Rebellion
According to the Ukrainian army, two soldiers died this Saturday in a separatist bombing, the first military casualties in more than a month, in a conflict that has left more than 14,000 dead since its inception.
The White House attributes these confrontations to a ruse of Russia to justify an offensive and warned again on Saturday of a possible attack “at any moment”.
Its president Joe Biden, who on Friday was “convinced” that the Kremlin had decided to attack, will meet on Sunday with his National Security Council on this crisis, said his spokesman Jen Psaki.
“Clear” timetable to enter NATO
In his speech in Munich, Zelenski asked to establish a “clear and feasible” calendar for the Ukraine’s accession to NATOsomething that would represent a red line for Moscow, which asks for guarantees that this will never happen.
Zelensky proposed to meet with Putin to clarify what his intentions are. “I don’t know what the Russian president wants, so I propose that we meet,” he declared.
According to the French presidency, the Ukrainian leader entrusted Emmanuel Macron that it would not “respond” to Russian “provocations” in the east of Ukraine and that he was still willing to “dialogue” with Moscow.
Putin minimizes possible economic sanctions
Also in Munich, US Vice President Kamala Harris warned of a reinforcement of NATO forces and “hard and fast” economic sanctions against Moscow if it launches the offensive.
Putin on Friday downplayed threats of economic retaliation. “The sanctions will be adopted no matter what. Whether there is a reason or not, they will find one because their goal is to stop the development of Russia“, he declared.
The clashes and the evacuation of civilians from eastern Ukraine fears have increased that Putin will order the dreaded invasion. The European Union warned of “manipulation” and “staged actions” that can be used as a “pretext for a possible escalation”.
“All signs indicate that Russia planning an all-out attack on Ukraine“NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told German television ARD on Saturday in Munich.
NATO indicated that it was moving its personnel in Kiev to Lviv, in the west of the country, or to Brussels, where it has its headquarters, as a “security” measure.
Germany on Saturday urged its citizens to “urgently” leave Ukraine. France also called its own to leave that country.
(With information from AFP)