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Volodymyr Zelensky relied on information from Ukrainian intelligence to denounce an alleged plot to overthrow him in December. According to the president, there are recordings of Ukrainian and Russian individuals allegedly involved in the plan, which would have the support of the richest businessman in Ukraine, the oligarch Rinat Ajmetov.
The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, reported this Friday that his intelligence service discovered an alleged plot to overthrow his government with the complicity of “representatives of Russia”, which was scheduled for December 1 or 2.
In a press conference with national and foreign media, Zelenski gave few details of the accusation and avoided directly pointing to the Kremlin as responsible.
“These are not just reports from intelligence agencies, we have audio recordings of representatives of Ukraine, who discussed with, so to speak, representatives of Russia, the participation of Rinat Akhmetov in a coup in Ukraine, for which a thousand will be allocated. millions of dollars, “he explained.
Akhmetov has been in a fierce dispute with Zelensky since the president made desoligarchy one of his political priorities. Even so, the president hinted that the businessman was being “dragged” into the alleged plan by his surroundings.
Both Russia and Akhmetov denied the allegations. The Kremlin rejected any coup plot and the oligarch called the accusations an “absolute lie.”
“Russia has no plans for such participation. Russia never does these things, ”said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov.
On the other hand, Zelenski asked to speak with Russia so that the authorities of that country explicitly declare that a new attack against Ukraine will not be launched, after attacking the country in 2014.
“We are defending our country. So the Russians and the President of Russia also have to say publicly: ‘We do not plan to attack Ukraine.’ I think that is how it should be, ”added the Ukrainian president. “Let’s say out loud that Russia is not preparing a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. I think that would be an important signal now,” he insisted.
Zelensky says they are “prepared for any attack”
Along with these appeals, Volodímir Zelenski considered that there is a significant risk of an escalation in the conflict with Russia, but clarified that his country is ready to face the situation.
“We have full control of our borders and we are fully prepared for any escalation,” he said.
Tension has grown in the area in recent weeks, after the United States, NATO and the European Union raised concerns about the arrival of Russian troops near Ukraine, which has alerted them of a possible invasion to the strength, something Moscow has repeatedly denied.
According to information provided by intelligence from Kiev and the United States, Russia has accumulated about 114,000 soldiers on its borders with Ukraine and on the Crimean peninsula.
“We see a frequent rotation (of Russian troops at the border) with the intention that we, satellites and intelligence detect that a concentration is taking place. We see that Russia is accumulating troops there and increasing the number of its military equipment. Then there are risks, “explained the Ukrainian president, who also clarified that the number of troops deployed by Russia on the border is less than those mobilized last spring.
NATO warns Russia of “price to pay” if it attacks Ukraine
The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg, also referred this Friday to the tense situation in the area and warned Russia of “the consequences” to which it will have to submit if it uses the troops deployed nearby from the Ukrainian border.
“We are very concerned about what is happening. For the second time this year, Russia has deployed heavy machinery, tanks and combat-ready troops on the borders of Ukraine. It is making aggressive speeches and its intentions are not clear,” Jens Stoltenberg remarked. from Alliance headquarters at a press conference.
However, Stoltenberg did not specify what the international body would do if Russia advances militarily in Ukraine. NATO did not intervene during the annexation of Crimea or during the Russian military incursions into Georgia in 2006.
Ukraine, who is a partner but not a member of NATO, wants to join the organization’s military alliance and has blamed Moscow for supporting pro-Russian separatists in a conflict in the east of the country since 2014.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the West was taking its “red lines” on NATO expansion too lightly.
“Russia has already invaded Ukraine in the past with the annexation of Crimea and supports the separatists in the Donbas. It has to be made clear that if Russia uses force against Ukraine, it will have consequences and there will be a price to pay,” Stoltenberg warned.
Next week, ministers from NATO member states, including top US diplomat Antony Blinken, will also meet with Ukrainian officials during a summit in Latvia.
With Reuters
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