Ukraine President Says “Left Alone” To Fight Against Russian Offensive
On Friday, Ukraine’s President said his country had been left on its own to fight Russia after the Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine that killed over 130 Ukrainians in the first day and pleaded for help as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.
We have been left alone,” to defend our state Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address to the nation after midnight.
He added, “Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don’t see anyone. Who is prepared to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid.
On Thursday, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order.
Zelensky said that 137 Ukrainians, both military personnel and civilians, had been killed since the start of the attack early Thursday. Another 316 had been wounded, he said. The dead comprises all border guards of the Zmiinyi Island in the Odessa region, which Russians took over on Thursday.
He concluded the speech by saying that “the fate of the country completely depends upon our army, security forces, all of our defenders.” He also said that the country has heard from Moscow that” they want to talk regarding Ukraine’s neutral status.
Earlier, he tweeted that “Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and won’t give up its freedom.”
His grasp on power was increasingly tenuous; he pleaded Thursday for even more severe sanctions than those imposed by Western allies and ordered a total military mobilization that would last for the coming 90 days.
Zelensky also said that Russian “sabotage groups” had entered the capital Kyiv and urged the city’s citizens to remain vigilant and observe a curfew.
Zelensky contradicts Russia’s claim that they are only killing army personnel. “They are killing people and turning peaceful cities as military targets. It is foul and will never be forgiven.
“What do we hear today? It is s not just rocket explosions, fighting, and the roar of aircraft. The sound of a new iron curtain lowering and closing Russia off the civilized world. Our national task is to make sure this curtain does not fall on our territory but the homes of Russians.”
The President added that he and his family remained in Ukraine, despite Russia identifying him as the first target.
By taking down politically, they want to destroy Ukraine the head of state,” Zelensky said.
After the Russian attack on Ukraine, many countries impose restrictions and cut ties with Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ignored global condemnation and cascaded new sanctions. He liberated the largest ground war in Europe since World War II and chillingly referred to his country’s nuclear arsenal. He threatened any country trying to interfere with “consequences you have never seen,” as a once-hoped for diplomatic resolution now appeared impossible.
Nobody believed that this war will start and that they would take Kyiv directly,” said Anton Mironov, waiting out the night in one of the old Soviet metro stations. “I feel mostly tired. None of it feels real.”
Zelinsky, who had earlier cut diplomatic ties from Moscow and declared martial law, appealed to all the global leaders, saying that “if you don’t help us now if you fail to offer a powerful assistance to Ukraine, tomorrow the war will come on your door.”
The chief of the NATO alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, said the “brutal act of war” shattered peace in Europe, joining a chorus of world leaders decrying an attack that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government. The conflict shook global financial markets: Stocks plunged, and oil prices soared amid concerns that heating bills and food prices would skyrocket.
Edited by: Mahi Gupta
Published by: Vishakha Verma
