The threat of Russia’s military operation against Ukraine remains, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.
“The threat remains. I want everyone to understand. According to our data, no significant withdrawal of troops is taking place, and we must be ready for any scenario. Moreover, those exercises ‘Zapad’ [West] that are being carried out by Russia, a lot of offensive elements are being practiced there, these are not defense exercises. These are exercises on how to capture cities, airfields, how to carry out an offensive operation,” Kuleba said on the air of the Ukraine 24 television channel on June 12.
He said that all the forces of Russia remain along the border.
“The withdrawal that took place there is very symbolic, and in fact, tens of thousands of Russian soldiers are still along the Ukrainian border, in occupied Crimea, and their weapons are as well,” the minister said.
Kuleba said that, in his assessment, what is happening now is a soil breakdown with a readiness to proceed with the implementation of a military operation.
“The escalation that Russia has been carrying out for weeks, not only transferring troops, which can always be done quietly and secretly, but also whipping up this military hysteria and calls to sort it out, put Ukraine in its place, and even there they said to destroy Ukraine – this is all that in classical military rules, precedes armed conflict. So, there was a preparation of its population, international opinion for the inevitability of war, and no one can guarantee that tomorrow the toggle switch will not be turned on again and all this will not start again,” Kuleba said.
