Volodymyr Zelensky on the streets of Kiev.
(Photo: AP)
Russian troops are advancing on Kiev, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is holding the fort. With a video message he wants to prevent rumors that he has left the city in view of the threatening situation.
“I’m here,” he says to the camera on the street in front of his office. He wishes everyone a good morning.
It is by no means a good morning for the Ukrainian capital. Authorities are already warning of street fights and urging residents to retreat to bunkers. The statement said: “Combat operations are now underway on the streets of our city. We ask that you remain calm and be as careful as possible!”
But Selenski wants to radiate confidence. The country must be defended, he says in his video. “Glory to Ukraine!”
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He is said to have declined an offer from the US government to bring him to safety from Kiev. The AP news agency reports, citing a senior US intelligence official. That’s what Selenski is said to have said; “The fight is here; I need ammo, not a ride.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin is driving the coup in Kiev with his military offensive and has already called on Ukrainian soldiers to revolt.
“The enemy has declared me the number one target,” says Selenski in a video message on Friday. “My family is goal number two. They want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the head of state.” He will nevertheless remain in the capital.
The political scientist Olga Onuch recently said about Selenski’s approach: “His tactic is to remain as calm as possible, he has no other choice.” If you can control it, at least you can avoid panicking your family and friends.”
>> Read here the current developments in Ukraine in our news blog
At the same time, the President is turning to the West with new demands: He brought up his country’s admission to the European Union. “It is a crucial moment to end once and for all the long-standing discussion and decide on Ukraine’s membership of the EU,” Zelensky tweeted on Saturday. He discussed “further effective aid” and the “heroic fight of the Ukrainians for their free future” with EU Council President Charles Michel.
EU membership for Ukraine has so far been considered impossible. According to experts, such a step would also make an agreement with Russia impossible.
With agency material
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