the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskysaid in a video posted on Facebook on Saturday (12) that Russia has sent new troops to Ukrainian territory, as the war between the countries reaches its 17th day.
In the video, the president says that the deployment of new troops would be taking place because the Russia would have had its biggest losses in decades.
Against the backdrop of continuing conflicts, Zelensky said Ukraine “has no right” to lower the intensity of combat.
Even so, he said the country’s forces respect the ceasefire to establish a humanitarian corridor in the city of Mariupol, and urged Russia to do the same.
Mariupol, located in southeastern Ukraine, has been the target of intense Russian attacks for more than a week. Local officials cited at least 1,600 civilian deaths.
The politician also stated that he is working with the European Commission, the body that administers the European Union, to accelerate accession to the bloc, whose request was made after the Russian invasion. He said he awaits the announcement of a new package of sanctions against Russia by the members of the bloc.
In the post, made on Facebook, Zelensky says that “now is the time that requires us all to be effective in routine matters. Get your work done one hundred percent, helping colleagues, taking care of your loved ones. And at the same time give everything necessary for our defense.”
The publication claims that the conflict with Russia is a “public war”, and a war “for our independence”.
Zelensky also said that he spoke with the German chancellor Olaf Scholz and the French president Emmanuel Macron about pressuring Russia to release the mayor of the city of Melitopol, whom Ukraine says was kidnapped on Friday by Russian forces.
The Russian-backed Luhansk regional prosecutor alleged that the mayor had committed terrorism crimes and was under investigation.
On Saturday, hundreds of people protested outside Melitopol town hall demanding the mayor’s release, according to video on Ukrainian state TV.
*With information from Reuters and Eleanor Pickston of CNN
Source: CNN Brasil
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