Ukraine believes it is not “apocalyptic predictions” about Russia Ukraine-Russia Crisis News

Mariupol, Ukraine – Ukraine underestimated Russia’s possible invasion on Sunday, saying it did not believe in an “apocalyptic prediction” after US officials gathered 70% of the military force needed for a full-scale invasion of Moscow.

Unnamed U.S. officials said on Saturday in the U.S. media that an operation to quickly capture the capital Kiev, ousting democratically elected President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was one of the most aggressive options for Russia to intervene against Ukraine.

In a scenario, between 25,000 and 50,000 civilians were killed, 25,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, U.S. officials said.

But Dmytro Kuleba Ukrainian Foreign Minister He questioned the danger in Kyiv on Sunday.

“Don’t believe the apocalyptic predictions. Different capitals have different scenarios, but Ukraine is ready for any development, ”he tweeted in Ukrainian only, suggesting that the message was aimed at a home audience.

“Today, Ukraine has a strong army, unprecedented international support and the faith of the Ukrainians in their country. The enemy must be afraid of us, not us of them. ‘

The chances of finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis remained “significantly higher than the threat of further escalation,” added Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak.

Zelenskyy’s government has in recent weeks downplayed Russia’s threat in an attempt to stabilize markets and prevent panic among its citizens, even as the U.S. warned that an attack was imminent and NATO forces were on alert.

The US and the United Kingdom have been accused of increasing the risk of a Russian attack, and they have flatly denied it.

‘What will Russia gain?’

Russia may also attack Ukraine with acts of sabotage, cyber-attacks and other instability, with the aim of ousting the current government in Kiev, according to US news reports.

Russia challenged the information provided in the report.

“Another masterpiece of US propaganda war,” said Russian diplomat Dmitri Polyanskiy.

“Unnamed officials, unknown sources, no evidence. And as we all saw, if you clearly question the lies, you will not receive a response and you will be appointed a Russian apologist, “he said. he said On Twitter on Sunday.

Pavel Luzin, a Russian security analyst, said the estimate of the size of the military could vary depending on the way it is calculated, and it has been difficult to assess the veracity of the claims of unnamed officials.

He said he still did not believe that a full-scale invasion was possible, and that Russia’s presence in eastern Ukraine in the two separatist territories – the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic – is likely to be more spectacular.

“There are hundreds of miles to travel, to deal with urban environments, tens of millions of people, relatively capable and well-organized and experienced state agencies to deal with the armed forces, as well as the lack of allies on the ground among Ukrainian citizens. and the international community, ”he said.

“What will Russia gain from an invasion, even if it promises to succeed? Nothing. And this action has no clear political purpose. “

He said Russian forces in Donbas, however, would help Moscow achieve its goals of demoralizing the Ukrainian army and forcing Kyiv to accept its vision. Minsk agreementThe 2014 agreement to end the Donbas war.

‘Consider all options’

Theresa Fallon, director of Russia’s Center for Europe-Asia Studies, said Putin was a “terrifying” aspect of the news, according to U.S. intelligence. can perform nuclear exercises in the region next month.

Russia has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world with 4,500 warheads, and said such a maneuver would send a serious message to NATO.

Fallon also noted that Europe has not seen such a large troop movement since the Cold War.

“You have to prepare for war in order to have peace, so you have to consider all the possibilities. And if it did happen, God forbid, there would be a war, there would be high rates of civilian deaths among the civilian population, ”he told Al Jazeera.

UN envoy Polyanskiy called the US media reports “crazy and frightening” over the weekend.

“And if we were to say that the United States could take London in a week and cause 300,000 deaths? Based on our intelligence sources, which we will not disclose,” Polyanskiy said.

In recent days, both sides have been accused of planning false flag operations as an excuse to step up the military.

U.S. intelligence has said it is planning an operation in Russia’s Donbas region – eastern Ukraine – or a fake drone attack on Russian territory, and Russian state television said Kyiv would launch a NATO-backed pro-Russian separatist attack.

European leaders will visit Moscow and Kiev next week to ease tensions. French President Emmanuel Macron will visit on Monday and Tuesday, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to Kiev on February 14.