PZelensky’s representative called his words about the occupation of Kharkiv a hypothetical scenario In an interview with The Washington Post Zelensky said that Russia could “occupy Kharkiv” if it decides to continue the escalation. His press secretary explained that the president was describing a “hypothetical scenario”
Vladimir Zelensky
The words of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky that Russia could occupy Kharkiv were just an example of what an escalation of the situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border could be, explained the press secretary of the head of state Sergey Nikiforov to Radio NV.
“It was just an example, a hypothetical scenario. That is, he did not mean that Kharkiv would be occupied,” Nikiforov said.
He stated that Zelensky’s replicating words “pull this phrase” out of the interview, while in the context it does not need explanations.
Zelensky described the mentioned scenario in an interview with The Washington Post. “I’ll be realistic. If Russia decides to escalate, of course, they will do it in the territories where people who have historically had family ties with Russia live. Kharkiv, which is controlled by the Ukrainian government, may be occupied,” the President of Ukraine suggested in response to a journalist’s question about which territories Russia could “seize”. As a possible pretext for the invasion, he called the protection of the Russian-speaking population.
Zelensky noted that it is difficult to make forecasts in the case of Kharkiv, because it is a big city: more than a million people live there. “This will not just be an occupation, it will be the beginning of a full-scale war,” he warned.
The President of Ukraine expressed surprise that the West refuses to impose preventive sanctions against Russia and plans to do so only in case of an attack on Ukraine. “Sanctions can also be a preventive measure: they can be introduced and then removed. If there is a Russian invasion, will sanctions be imposed when we may have already lost some territories?»— he asked.
Zelensky stressed that Ukraine is against war and supports resolving the situation through dialogue. “I think [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has a great opportunity to agree to a peaceful resolution, sit down at the table and find a compromise,” the Ukrainian leader said.
Moscow has repeatedly denied plans to invade Ukraine, which foreign media began to write about at the end of last year and Western politicians began to talk about.
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