Zelenskyy Warns of Potential Russian Aggression Against NATO
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy raised alarm bells on Sunday regarding a potential escalation of Russian military aggression, particularly against NATO member states, should U.S. support for Ukraine diminish. Appearing on NBC's 'Meet the Press,' Zelenskyy discussed intelligence reports indicating that Russian President Vladimir Putin is amassing troops for a possible invasion of another European nation. This statement comes ahead of a crucial emergency summit of European leaders in Paris focused on Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine and accompanying peace talks between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia.
Zelenskyy suggested that such aggression could materialize during the summer, although he remained uncertain about the timing. "It can happen in summer, maybe in the beginning, maybe in the end of summer. I do not know when he prepares it," he stated. Zelenskyy expressed concern about where Putin might direct this aggression, suggesting that Polish and Lithuanian territories, once under the influence of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, could be next targets.
Pointing to his access to documentation, Zelenskyy noted the preparations for training 150,000 troops in Belarus, a key ally of Moscow. He emphasized that while Putin might publicly claim these as routine military exercises, the reality is far more dangerous. "But it's not the truth," Zelenskyy asserted. He highlighted that the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began with similar deceptive military training operations.
Despite his skepticism, Zelenskyy indicated a willingness to work with Donald Trump, should he return to the U.S. presidency, stressing that he wouldn't accept any peace agreement that marginalized Ukraine from the negotiations. Recent comments made by U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, which downplayed European leadership roles or hinted at possible future scenarios where parts of Ukraine may be handed over to Russia, have disappointed Zelenskyy and many European leaders.
Zelenskyy reiterated that Europe cannot guarantee Ukraine's security without robust U.S. involvement. "There is no leader in the world who can really make a deal with Putin without us — about us," he stated emphatically. He urged for unity among European nations and the U.S., warning that a lack of cohesion could jeopardize strategic partnerships and embolden Russian ambitions.
Reacting to Vance's comments at the Munich Security Conference, European leaders, including the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, emphasized that any lasting peace in Ukraine necessitates their participation. Scholz criticized Vance's remarks, labeling them as unacceptable interference in European diplomatic matters.
Zelenskyy underscored the dangers that weakened U.S. support could pose to NATO, indicating that such a shift might be precisely what Putin is waiting for to implement his territorial ambitions. He expressed confidence that the U.S. would not withdraw its troops from Europe, recognizing the potential destabilizing effects on NATO and the European landscape.
"Putin definitely counts on that, and the fact that we receive information that he will think of the invasion against former Soviet republics," he cautioned. He concluded by expressing concern over the broader implications of a Russian threat not just to Ukraine but to Europe as a whole, highlighting that the risk of Russian occupation could extend to former Soviet states now allied with NATO.
With tensions rising and European leaders grappling with the implications of changing U.S. foreign policy, Zelenskyy's words serve as a potent reminder of the precarious situation facing Ukraine and its allies in the geopolitical landscape.
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