Thursday, 24 February 2022 (YJC)_ The Ukrainian president said that Moscow had approved the attack on his country, saying that he had tried to contact his Russian counterpart but had not received a response.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday morning reiterated claims that Russia might invade his country.
In a televised address to the Ukrainian people, Zelenskyy said that an attack on his country had been approved in Russia.
Al-Jazeera quoted him as saying:
Russian-speaking Zelensky said he had tried to telephone [Vladimir] Putin [Russian President] but received no response.
Addressing the Russian people, the President of Ukraine said:
There are about 200,000 Russian troops on the border [Ukraine], and your president has ordered them to move forward.
Zelenskyy called on the Russian people to oppose their country's invasion of Ukraine.
We are not looking for a threat to Russia, we are looking for the security of our people.
According to Sputnik news agency, he further emphasized:
We are not looking for a cold or hot war, but we are defending ourselves. Ukraine is ready to negotiate with Russia in any format and on any platform.
The President of Ukraine added:
They (the Russians) say that Ukraine could be a threat to Russia, but such a thing has not happened in the past, not even now and will not happen in the future.
Accordingly, Zelenskyy continued:
Putin ordered his forces to invade Ukraine, and if that happened, it would be a step towards a major war in Europe. Russians and Ukrainians are different but not enemies.
He also added:
I call on the Russian people to listen to common sense and tell them (the Moscow authorities) that the Ukrainian people and authorities want peace. Russia may soon start a major war in Europe. Who will you fight? Many [Russians] were in Ukraine and have relatives here.