New Delhi: Former defense chief of Ukraine Andriy Zagorodnyi’s statement may force NATO countries and the US to think more on Russia as he said, “Russia has enough troops ready to take Kyiv. Russia has enough troops in place to seize Kyiv or another Ukrainian city but not yet sufficient numbers for a full takeover and occupation of the country.”
In an Interview, Andriy Zagorodnyi said “Russia could now seize any city in Ukraine. But we still don’t see the 200,000 troops needed for a full-scale invasion.”
The White House believes Moscow has assembled at least 70 percent of the firepower it needs to give Vladimir Putin the option of a major military operation by mid-February.
On Sunday, The US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that “an invasion could take place at any time and it could happen as soon as tomorrow, or it could take some weeks yet. We are in the window where something could happen. We believe the Russians have put in place the capabilities to mount a significant operation.”
“We are prepared to sit down with the Russians, alongside our allies in Nato and other partners in Europe, to talk about issues of mutual concern in European security. And yes, that includes the placement of certain range systems of missiles,” Jake Sullivan added.
However, US officials warned on Saturday that a full Russian invasion might result in the fast takeover of Kyiv and the deaths or injuries of up to 50,000 civilians.
(_Vinayak)
