Russia Will Likely Intensify Fighting as EU Decision Looms, Zelensky Says
NATO's Stoltenberg says war could drag on for years
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Sunday that Russian attacks could intensify this week as the European Union considers Kyiv’s membership application.
"Obviously, we expect Russia to intensify hostile activity this week ... We are preparing. We are ready," he said.
Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said Friday that Ukraine should be encouraged to join the EU. The process could take decades.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited Kyiv last week, said “Ukraine normally should not be a candidate.”
“We're doing it because of the war and because we think it's good,” Macron said. “It's a sign of hope, it's a message for Ukraine to say that they are in the European family."
Von der Leyen said Ukraine must make "important" reforms – “on rule of law, oligarchs, human rights and tackling corruption,” the BBC reported.
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Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chair of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, said the invite means Ukraine could join sometime in the 2050s and the EU may not even exist by then.
"They promised, but with conditions," Medvedev said. "Ukraine is supposed to become better, cleaner, less corrupt, more developed, enlightened, smarter. "Aunt Usrula (von der Leyen) even said that Ukrainians are dying for EU membership."
He continued, "Perhaps (knock on wood) the EU disappears by this time? It's frightening to think what a scandal this would be, given the sacrifices that have been made on the altar of joining the EU, and what a deception it would be of the expectations of the unfortunate Ukrainians."
Russian President Vladimir Putin seemed to be unfazed at the possibility of Ukraine joining the EU.
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"We have nothing against it," he said, according to Reuters. "It is not a military bloc. It's the right of any country to join economic union."
The European Commission also recommended that Moldova is also named a "candidate" for joining the EU.
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Zelensky’s comments came as NATO's chief Jens Stoltenberg warned that the conflict could continue "for years."
"We must not weaken in our support of Ukraine, even if the costs are high -- not only in terms of military support but also because of rising energy and food prices," he told Bild, the German daily.
TRENDPOST: Long forgotten in the Western media was the U.S. and NATO’S pledge not to expand into Eastern Europe following the deal made during the 1990 negotiations between the West and the Soviet Union over German unification.
Therefore, in the view of Russia, it is taking self-defense actions to protect itself from NATO’s eastward march.
As detailed in The Los Angeles Times back in May of 2016, while the U.S. and NATO deny that no such agreement was struck, “...hundreds of memos, meeting minutes and transcripts from U.S. archives indicate otherwise.”
The article states:
“According to transcripts of meetings in Moscow on Feb. 9, then-Secretary of State James Baker suggested that in exchange for cooperation with Germany, the U.S. could make ‘iron-clad guarantees’ that NATO would not expand ‘one inch eastward.’ Less than a week later, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev agreed to begin reunification talks.
“No formal deal was struck, but from all the evidence, the quid pro quo was clear: Gorbachev acceded to Germany’s western alignment and the U.S. would limit NATO’s expansion.”
https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/unodoc-offices-in-all-cities . I also have a petition for a UNODOC training program for U.S forces so can avoid being corporate tools. Idea is to coordinate international UNODOC program with each nation having their own UNODOC program. Idea is for individuals to to protect themselves from W.H.O. which has been captured by pharmaceutical industry. Idea is fir your Juky 24th rally to sign tge petition and implement via VISA tax transfer authorization through IRS the U.S part. A tax transfer authorization form for international transfers you might object to as say you do not want your money put in that. Idea is sent durect for a contract for UNODOC uniforms abd vehicles so not put to use as corporate tool.