US senior admin official on Russia's UNSC presidency: "I think the bigger issue and maybe the question is how Russia wants to use the events that it puts on the calendar in February to address or potentially distract from the situation in Ukraine and its own actions”
2 year agoUK prime minister Boris Johnson will speak to Russia's president Putin in coming days on Ukraine crisis. - Coming week could be important one for Johnson on foreign policy stage as he looks to assert UK role in mediating crisis
2 year agoRep. Gregory Meeks, who is leading a congressional delegation in Ukraine, says there must be a "plan A and a plan B, because we don't know what Putin will do" as Russia's troop buildup near Ukraine continues. Meeks added he's "confident" Ukrainians will defend their country
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"
Zelensky: "I don't think the White House is going very wrong in their analysis. I think that they are participating in this informational situation that is created around our borders"
Zelensky says "we do see" the 100,000 Russian troops. "If it happens, it will be open war. A horrible war, and we understand these things"
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 year agoZelensky: 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?"
Zelensky says he hopes to see three-way negotiations between the US, Russia and Ukraine
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."
Zelensky: "The biggest risk is to fail to hold the country together. Domestic destabilization. This is the weakest link"
2 year agoThe 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"
Zelensky, asked what Ukrainian government is doing to prepare for possibility of attack, says "we should have no panic. We have a powerful army"
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 asks Zelensky if he's playing down the threat of a Russian attack to preserve Ukraine's economy. Replies: "I think you mistake me for another President of Ukraine"
Zelensky says Russian military build-up is "psychological pressure" aimed at affecting negotiations
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
