Putin warns Ukraine may lose statehood

 

Putin warns Ukraine may lose statehood

The New York Times reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin warned in a meeting on Saturday that Ukraine could lose its very existence "if they keep doing what they're doing."

"The current leadership is risking the future of the Ukrainian state," Putin was quoted as saying in Moscow. "If this happens, they will be blamed for that."

The newspaper reported that he likened the sanctions imposed by Western countries on Russia as "a declaration of war" during his meeting, which indicates Russia's escalation in its rhetoric amid its invasion of Ukraine.

Some US lawmakers criticized those statements.

"Wearing immigration and attacks on nuclear plants is like declaring war as well," Senate Deputy Intelligence Chief Marco Rubio (R-Fla) wrote on Twitter on Saturday. "The problem is that NATO will quickly eliminate #Russian conventional forces, and Putin will then use chemical, biological, and non-strategic nuclear weapons to freeze the conflict."

Ukraine was independent for more than 30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The international community widely condemned Russia's invasion of the sovereign state, and Ukraine was invited to join the NATO military alliance. Russia demanded that Ukraine not be allowed to join NATO.

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the EU membership application as the former Soviet state seeks to join the bloc.

"We aim to be with all Europeans countries and, most importantly, to be on an equal footing," the Ukrainian president was quoted as saying by the New York Times. "I'm sure it's fair. I'm sure it's possible."