(Kiev) American warnings evoking an imminent attack by Russia against Ukraine “cause panic and do not help” the Ukrainians, President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced on Saturday, quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
Posted at 7:52
“Currently, our enemies’ best friend is panic in our country. And all this information [sur une possible attaque] only cause panic and do not help us,” he said during a trip to the provinces.
He judged that there were “too many” announcements announcing a “deep, total war on the part of Russia”. “If you have any more information about a 100% certain invasion, give it to us! “, he still insisted.
“We understand the risks, we know they are there,” he added.
PHOTO SERGEI SUPINSKY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
The United States has judged for weeks that a Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbor is imminent, and estimated on Friday that it could now be a matter of days.
Russia has tens of thousands of troops on its borders with Ukraine, and is also conducting large-scale maneuvers in neighboring Belarus and the Black Sea.
Ukraine has in the past accused Washington of alarmism and of taking the risk of fueling a destructive panic for the country.
If the Ukrainian authorities note that the Russian army has been deployed for months on its borders, they stress that diplomacy still has an important card to play.
“We work at the diplomatic level, talk every day with the authorities of various countries, their leaders, at different levels. This is why we consider that diplomatic means are the only way to achieve de-escalation,” Zelensky said on Saturday.