Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country is expected to be attacked by Russia this week, according to a CNN report.
In the following translated Facebook post, Zelensky said that the Ukrainian government has been informed that an invasion will be launched in two days, on Wednesday, February 16:
Great people of a great country! There have been serious external and internal challenges in front of our country, which require responsibility, confidence and concrete actions from me and each of us.
We are intimidated by a great war and once again set the date of the military invasion. This is not the first time. But our state is stronger today than ever.
We strive for peace and want to solve all issues exclusively through negotiations. And Donbass, and Crimea will return to Ukraine. Only in a diplomatic way. We don’t stare at someone else’s, but we won’t give our own. We have an amazing army. Our boys have unique combat experience and modern weapons. This is already times stronger than the army eight years ago. We are confident in our armed forces, and our military too should feel our support, our togetherness and our unity. The basis of our army is the confidence of our own people and a strong economy.
We are told that February 16 will be the day of attack. We will make it a union day. The decree has already been signed. This afternoon we will hang national flags, put on blue-yellow ribbons and show the world our unity.
We have one great European aspiration. We want freedom and are ready to vote for it. 14 thousand defenders and civilians who died in this war are watching us from the sky. And we will not betray their memory.
We all want to live happily, and happiness loves the strong. We have never been able to give up and we are not going to learn that.
Love Ukraine! We are at peace! We are strong! We are together!
According to reports, Zelensky has not released the source of this information.
This followed a statement from U.S. Department of State Antony Blinken that the U.S. “is in the process of temporarily relocating our Embassy operations in Ukraine from our Embassy in Kyiv to Lviv due to the dramatic acceleration in the buildup of Russian forces.”
“In the meantime, I have ordered these measures for one reason – the safety of our staff – and we strongly urge any remaining U.S. citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately,” Blinken concluded, sharing a link to an online form those “seeking emergency assistance in Ukraine” should use, after which “the State Department will follow-up, as appropriate.”
Just in: Blinken announces that the US “is in the process of temporarily relocating our Embassy operations in Ukraine from our Embassy in Kyiv to Lviv due to the dramatic acceleration in the buildup of Russian forces.” Kyiv embassy closing for now. pic.twitter.com/5VHTumr2cX
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) February 14, 2022
Soon after media outlets reported on Zelensky’s comments, Ukrainian officials claimed that he was being “ironic.”
“CNN has been told by Mykhailo Podoliak, a Presidential adviser, that Zelensky was being ironic with his comment,” tweeted CNN’s Kylie Atwood.
CNN has been told by Mykhailo Podoliak, a Presidential adviser, that Zelensky was being ironic with his comment –> https://t.co/RtPtmZOnyf
— Kylie Atwood (@kylieatwood) February 14, 2022
This article has been updated to include further remarks from Zelensky.
Ian Haworth is an Editor and Writer for The Daily Wire. Follow him on Twitter at @ighaworth.
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