Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might skip the Munich Security Conference this weekend as fears of Russia invading continue to grow and violence in eastern Ukraine escalates, according to a new report.
Zelensky’s spokesperson told NBC News on Friday that the president may revisit his plans to attend the conference if the situation gets worse.
“As of this morning, President Zelensky was planning to attend the Munich Security Conference,” the spokesperson said. “Now we are observing the situation, which is getting more and more dramatic.”
A final decision on his attendance is expected to be made in the coming hours.
“If there is a dramatic escalation or some worrying messages, then he might change his mind.”
Zelensky was scheduled to depart for Germany on Saturday morning and was scheduled to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris while at the conference.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could skip the weekend conference, his spokesperson said. AFP via Getty Images
If tensions with Russia continue to escalate, Zelensky could miss the meeting. Getty ImagesWhen pressed Friday about whether it was “wise” for Zelensky to leave Ukraine amid the ongoing crisis, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that it was “a decision for him to make.”
“But regardless of what decision he makes, he will find a strong partner in the United States,” she added.
The potential schedule change was reported on a second day of rapid developments in the crisis between Russia and Ukraine — particularly in two far eastern regions of Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists control some cities.
Russian army tanks on railway platforms to move back to their permanent base after drills near the Ukrainian border. AP
A Russian soldier conducts military training near the Ukrainian border. APSince Thursday, the region has seen shelling attacks with hundreds of explosions and an alleged car bombing. Ukrainian officials and separatist rebels have blamed each other for the attacks, but no blame has been placed yet for the vehicle explosion on Friday.
Russian news agencies alleged the car belonged to Denis Sinenkov, chief of the People’s Militia. It was located outside a government building in Donetsk at the time of the explosion.
Earlier in the day, separatist leader Denis Pushilin ordered a mass evacuation to Russia of all women, children and elderly civilians in the area, claiming Ukraine was planning to invade the separatist-controlled Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Russian and Belarusian air forces fly in joint military exercises this week. AP
Russian army tanks en route to their permanent base. AP“In recent months, we have been observing a daily increase in the number of military personnel and lethal weapons by Ukraine, including Smerch and Uragan multiple launch rocket systems, NLAW rocket launchers, as well as Javelins and Stingers along the entire line of contact,” Pushilin said in a video statement.
“Today their guns are aimed at civilians, at us and our children. The armed forces of the enemy are in combat formations and are ready for the forceful capture of Donbass.”
Ukraine immediately denied the accusation.
“We categorically refute Russian disinformation reports on Ukraine’s alleged offensive operations or acts of sabotage in chemical production facilities,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted. “Ukraine does not conduct or plan any such actions in the Donbas. We are fully committed to diplomatic conflict resolution only.”
Zelensky was scheduled to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris while in Munich. APHours later, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence agency warned residents in Donetsk to stay inside their homes and avoid public transportation after learning Russian special services “mined a number of social infrastructure facilities” in the city to “further undermine them.”
“These measures are aimed at destabilizing the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of our state and create grounds for accusing Ukraine of terrorist attacks,” the Defence Intelligence’s said in a series of tweets.
“The Public Relations Service of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine urges Donetsk residents not to leave their homes and not to use public transport.”
The growing tensions have led the United States and United Kingdom to heavily warn against “false-flag” operations that could fabricate Ukrainian aggression to justify a Russian invasion.
“We know the Russian Government’s playbook. Do not be deceived,” the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office tweeted Friday. “We call on Russia to de-escalate, and to engage in meaningful talks. #StandWithUkraine”
Vice President Kamala Harris was already attending meetings in Munich on Feb. 18, 2022. APThe London government indicated that the likely false-flag operation involved a staged attack on civilians that would be blamed on Ukraine’s military or “terrorists.” Another possibility, the Foreign Office said, was that Moscow would provoke violence in order to cast its forces as peacekeepers.
Currently, the US estimates Russia has massed between 169,000 and 190,000 military personnel “in and near” Ukraine, a massive jump from 100,000 estimated at the end of January.
