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KYIV – Ukraine yesterday pushed back at “apocalyptic predictions” over a potential Russian invasion, after United States officials sounded dire warnings that Moscow had stepped up its preparations for a major incursion.
US officials said the Kremlin has assembled 110,000 troops along the border with its pro-Western neighbour, but intelligence assessments have not determined whether President Vladimir Putin has actually decided to invade.
The Russian force amassed on the frontier is growing at a rate that would give Putin the firepower he needs for a full-scale invasion – some 150,000 soldiers – by mid-February, US officials have said.
They assess that Putin wants all options at his disposal, from a limited campaign in the pro-Russian Donbas region of Ukraine to a full-scale invasion.
Russia denies that it is planning an incursion into Ukraine.
Не вірте апокаліптичним прогнозам. В різних столицях прораховують різні сценарії, але Україна готова до будь-якого розвитку подій. Сьогодні Україна має потужну армію, безпрецедентну міжнародну підтримку та віру українців у свою державу. Це ворог має нас боятися, а не ми його.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 6, 2022
“Do not believe the apocalyptic predictions. Different capitals have different scenarios, but Ukraine is ready for any development,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter.
“Today, Ukraine has a strong army, unprecedented international support and the faith of Ukrainians in their country. It is the enemy who should fear us.”
Presidency adviser Mykhailo Podolyak insisted that the chances of finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis remained “substantially higher than the threat of further escalation”.
Kyiv – backed up by some European allies – has consistently sought to play down fears of an imminent attack as it tries to prevent further harm to its struggling economy.
Podolyak said the latest Russian moves were “no surprise” as Moscow has sought to keep up pressure on Kyiv by conducting large-scale troop rotations, manoeuvres, and weapon deployments on a regular basis since massing forces at the border last spring.
“How long will such Russian activity last and for what purpose is it maintained? Only the Kremlin can know the exact answer to this question,” he said. – AFP, February 7, 2022