Russia's statistics agency Rosstat reports that the nation's population fell by over 1 million in 2021
"If war were to break out on a scale and scope that is possible, the civilian population will suffer immensely," Gen. Milley warns. He tells @barbarastarrcnn if the forces massed by Russia were unleashed on Ukraine, "it would be horrific, it would be terrible”
U.S. military's top officer: "We strongly encourage Russia to stand down." Gen. Milley says Ukraine has the "right to be independent”
Russia's military buildup near Ukraine has expanded to include supplies of blood along with other medical materials that would allow it to treat casualties, a key indicator of Moscow's military readiness, three U.S. officials tell @Reuters
Zelensky says the White House is making the Russian invasion threat "as burning as possible" - "in my opinion, this is a mistake." Again criticizes withdrawals of staff/families from Western embassies - says the moves were "redundant and wrong"
Зяленскі: Я не думаю, што Белы дом вельмі памыляецца ў сваім аналізе. Я думаю, што яны ўцягнутыя ў гэтую інфармацыйную сытуацыю, якая ствараецца вакол нашых межаў
Зяленскі кажа, што мы бачым 100 000 расейскіх вайскоўцаў. Калі гэта адбудзецца, то гэта будзе адкрытая вайна. Жудасная вайна, і мы гэта разумеем.
Zelensky says it was a "mistake" for Western embassies - the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia - to withdraw families and non-essential staff. "In these circumstances, everyone is essential"
Zelensky says Putin invited him to Sochi, asks why there: "Do you want me to ski there?" Suggests Odessa instead. "Let's swim in the sea."
Zelensky, still asking questions to Putin: "Why are you proposing things that won't work? This is just blunt cynicism at high level."
2 рок таму Zelensky: I don't want Ukraine to be a result between president Biden and President Putin. President Biden assured me that nothing will be decided behind Ukraine's back about the destiny and future about our country
Zelensky says he'd ask Putin: "Why do you need so many soldiers there?.... Why do you need to have drills specifically on that territory, on that border?... What is this sado-masochism? What is the pleasure of someone being afraid?"
Зяленскі кажа, што спадзяецца на трохбаковыя перамовы паміж ЗША, Расіяй і Украінай
Zelensky: "I don't want Ukraine to be the result of an agreement between President Biden and President Putin"
Zelensky, asked about Germany's role in the crisis, says Berlin has important influence in Europe. "That's why we expect you to help us"
Zelensky wandering into internal Ukrainian divisions - talking about how oligarchs and some of the former political elite "don't care what is happening in the country."
Зяленскі: "Самая вялікая рызыка - не ўтрымаць краіну разам. Унутраная дэстабілізацыя. Гэта самае слабое звяно"
2 рок таму The unloading of Russian troops was seen in Maryina Horka on January 27. There were trucks with the 25th region on license plates (Eastern Military District) near the Russian Railways train
Zelensky hints that if war starts in Ukraine, there will also be Russian provocations against the Baltic states - asks whether NATO will act. "Are they convinced they will be protected, defended - that somebody's going to die for their statehood"
Zelensky says he does see the threat of a proxy war involving cyberattacks and information warfare - possibly also "subversive" attacks (he mentions a grenade exploding). "The threat is constant.. We have learned to live with this"
Адказваючы на пытанне, што робяць украінскія ўлады, каб падрыхтавацца да магчымага нападу, Зяленскі сказаў, што "не павінна быць панікі. У нас магутная армія".
Zelensky: "We have to be very careful in how we speak out.. We can't say that the war will happen tomorrow." Points out (correctly) that some analysts have been predicting imminent war since November
Zelensky: "We may lose the economy of our country. People come first." Repeats that Russian threat is the same as in April 2021
Sky News пытаецца ў Зяленскага, ці прымяншае ён пагрозу расейскага нападу, каб выратаваць эканоміку Украіны. Адказ: Я думаю, што вы прымаеце мяне за іншага прэзідэнта Украіны
Зяленскі кажа, што нарошчванне расейскай арміі - гэта псіхалагічны ціск, каб паўплываць на перамовы
Zelensky speaking to foreign media: "If you look only at the satellites, you will see the increase of troops. You can't assess whether this is a threat, an attack, or a simple rotation"
Zelensky asked a tough Question: What does he think he knows that President Biden doesn't know? Answer: "I think I have my own secrets, just like the President of the United States
Zelensky, answering Question about money laundering, talks about post-Soviet oligarchs that plague both Russia and Ukraine. Says Russian escalation has distracted his government from de-oligarchization efforts
Зяленскі пытаецца, чаму Захад кажа, што ўвядзе санкцыі супраць Расеі толькі пасля яе нападу на Украіну. Ён кажа, што санкцыі прызначаныя для абароны ЕС і НАТА, а не Украіны
Зяленскі: Шчыра кажучы, мы ніколі не ўвойдзем у NATO (калі ў бліжэйшы час не будзе дакладнай дарожнай карты)