Reznikov urged US President Joe Biden — who was set to talk with Vladimir Putin of Russia in a video convention name on Tuesday — to face agency towards Moscow.
“If I can advise President Biden, I would love him to articulate to Mr. Putin that no pink traces from the Kremlin aspect ought to be right here. The pink line is right here in Ukraine and the civilized world will react with out hesitation,” Reznikov instructed CNN in an unique interview Monday.
“The concept of not upsetting Russia is not going to work,” he added.
Russia has capabilities in place alongside the Ukraine border to hold out a swift and rapid invasion, together with erecting provide traces corresponding to medical items and gasoline that might maintain a drawn-out battle, ought to Moscow select to invade, two sources accustomed to American intelligence assessments instructed CNN final week.Reznikov instructed CNN that Ukraine assesses that Russia presently has 95,000 troops inside hanging distance of Ukraine. He additionally added that, as a result of power of battle-hardened Ukrainian forces, present US estimates that Russia may assemble 175,000 troops to invade Ukraine have been an underestimate.
“So, we’ve got 250,000 official … members of our military. Plus, I stated 400,000 veterans and 200,000 reservists. 175,000 (is) not sufficient to go to Ukraine,” stated Reznikov.
Reznikov burdened {that a} Russian invasion — if it occurs — would have “disastrous” penalties for the entire of European continent, with an estimated 4 to five million Ukrainians presumably needing to hunt refuge in Europe. Reznikov additionally underlined that Ukraine is a significant meals provider to Europe and Africa, provides which he stated could be disrupted.
The minister stated that the Ukrainian military has despatched a request for additional army tools support from its allies, together with materials help and coaching for its air power and navy. “We do not want troops, as a result of I believe it isn’t so truthful that American troopers will die in Ukraine. No, we do not want it,” added Reznikov.
Ukraine has warned for weeks that Russia is attempting to destabilize the nation forward of any deliberate army invasion, with NATO declaring that Russian actions close to the border have been uncommon. Western powers have repeatedly urged Russia towards additional aggressive strikes towards Ukraine.
The Kremlin denies it’s planning to assault and argues that NATO help for Ukraine — together with elevated weapons provides and army coaching — constitutes a rising menace on Russia’s western flank.
On the Kremlin’s motives, Reznikov instructed CNN he believed the Russia’s saber-rattling was aimed toward spreading concern and unrest in Ukraine, and at stopping Ukraine from transferring nearer towards NATO and EU membership.
The Kremlin is demanding a authorized dedication that NATO is not going to be expanded eastwards to incorporate Ukraine and that NATO army infrastructure, like missile methods, is not going to be constructed up within the nation.
“If we share or unfold panic in our nation and within our society, it will likely be the reward to the Kremlin, as a result of they attempting to try this. Because this gathering of their troops alongside of our border, it is a foremost purpose of them to make destabilization course of within our nation, to cease us in our manner. But we go into the NATO ally, we’ll EU,” he stated.