KYIV, 28 Feb: An update on the Ukraine situation on Sunday shows the United States and members of NATO condemning Russia’s decision to enact their nuclear deterrence forces on high alert as a foreseeable threat.
The decision made by President Vladimir Putin was upheld after a series of widespread sanctions and negative remarks by Western nations after the initial launch of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Elsewhere, Belarus, an ally of Russia, has announced its constitution has ditched its non-nuclear status after 65.16 percent of referendum participants voted in favour of the amendments. This will result in nuclear weapons returning to the country and the deployment of Russian troops to continue within its borders.
The country was essential to the Russian invasion as it hosted the Russian military days before its deployment in Ukraine.
As an immediate answer to the conflict, the European Union (EU) has decided it would send 450 million euros worth of weapons to Ukraine, a first time in its history.
The European Union’s chief executive on Sunday expressed unequivocal support for Ukraine becoming a member of the bloc, calling the country “one of us.”
Beyond European borders, Canada has also announced it will send non-lethal protective military equipment after a direct request from Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna.
After four days of the brutal conflict, nearly 400,000 civilians, mainly women and children, have fled to nearby borders of neighbouring countries while their male counterparts are to take arms against the Russian forces.
At least 352 civilians, including 14 children, had been killed since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24, with 1,684 people wounded.
President Volodymyr Zelensky in light of the combat with Russian forces in Kyiv has agreed to meet with the Russian counterparts on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. The Ukrainian government will be sending a delegation on Monday which they hope will abruptly end all conflict in Ukraine.
According to Reuters, earlier calls for negotiations between the two forces were offered but were initially rejected due to certain Belarusian territories used as a staging ground for the Russian assault.
President Zelensky told news outlets, “Of course, we want peace, we want to meet, we want for the war to end. Warsaw, Bratislava, Budapest, Istanbul, Baku — we have suggested all that to Russia.”
Similarly, The United Nations Security Council called for a rare emergency special session of the 193-member General Assembly on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which will be held on Monday.
French U.N. Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière said France is to put forward a draft council resolution “demanding the end of hostilities, protection of civilians, and safe and unhindered humanitarian access to meet the urgent needs of the population.” – TVS
