Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims that the media spread the news that an attack would occur on February 16th. This date is not official.
After issuing a global statement claiming that Russia was going to attack his country on February 16, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reversed the prediction Monday. He clarified that he was only referring to media reports.
The markets were rattled by the first statement, which led to numerous headlines and media reports.
In a Facebook video, Zelenskyy stated that “We are informed that February 16 will mark the day of the attack.”
After his comments were taken at face value by many, Sergii Nykyforov his spokesperson, stated that the president, who is a former comedian was simply stating what had been reported elsewhere.
According to NBC News, the spokesman said that the president referred “to a date spread by media”.
According to observers, Zelenskyy seemed to be sarcastic towards those who viewed his video. Another sign of spiraling tensions is the move of the United States’ embassy from Kyiv, Ukraine to Lviv by Antony Blinken , Secretary of State.
Zelenskyy has been known to take a more reserved tone regarding the possibility of a Russian invasion. The U.S. and its allies consider this a real possibility in the near future.
Russia has approximately 130,000 troops, tanks, and other military units close to Ukraine’s borders. However, it denies that it plans to invade the former Soviet republic.
This is an indication of how serious the U.S. and other countries take the Russian threat.
Blinken stated that he had ordered the measures to protect our staff. He also urged any Americans still living in Ukraine to immediately leave.
MSNBC interview: Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said Monday that “a very small amount of people” are in the Embassy. He also warned that the U.S. would be unable to protect Americans during an invasion.
Smith stated, “So, we want make sure we get Americans out Ukraine because if they invade, you know that we don’t really need to protect them.”