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Kiev — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Armed Forces Day could be repelled by Russian attacks as it marked Armed Forces Day on display of US armored vehicles and patrol boats.
US President Joe Biden has promised “unwavering support” to Ukraine in the conflict with Moscow and is trying to mitigate the crisis by meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Zelenskiy will speak with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday.
Ukraine has accused Russia of gathering tens of thousands of troops near the border in preparation for a possible large-scale military attack, increasing the likelihood of a war between the two neighbors.
“Ukrainian military personnel continue to fulfill their most important mission of protecting national freedom and sovereignty from Russian invaders,” Zelensky said in a statement.
“The Ukrainian army … is confident in its strength and can thwart the enemy’s plans to conquer,” he said.
Russia dismissed the story of a new attack on Ukraine as false and instigating, but told the West not to cross the “red line” and to stop the NATO alliance from expanding eastward. ..
NATO membership
Wearing khaki armor and helmets, Zelensky shakes hands with soldiers at the forefront of the Donetsk region, where Ukrainian troops have fought against Russian support forces in a dispute that Kiev has killed 14,000 people since 2014. Flew east for.
He then flew to Kharkov, a city near the northeastern border of Ukraine with Russia, the traditional center of weapons manufacturing, and tanks, armored personal carriers, and armored vehicles manufactured at the city’s factories. Marked delivery.
Standing in front of a line of soldiers, tanks and planes on the city’s main square on Monday night, Zelensky defeated the way Ukrainian troops equipped with the help of NATO allies.
Ukraine is a former Soviet Republic currently seeking accession to the European Union and NATO, receiving Javanese anti-tank missiles from the United States, sophisticated drones from Turkey, and building ships and a new naval base on the south coast of Ukraine. Signed a contract with the United Kingdom. ..
Several cities throughout Ukraine are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the creation of an independent army after gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
“Today I am here with the commander of the Ukrainian Army here in Kharkov’s Freedom Square,” Zelensky said in a speech.
“This is important because freedom is of utmost value to us,” he added. Those today. “
Kiev, Lviv, and the southern port city of Odessa exhibited American-made humvees. In Odessa, there was also a ceremony to hand over two recently delivered US Coast Guard patrol boats aimed at strengthening the Ukrainian Navy.
Ukraine urged NATO to accelerate its accession to the military alliance, stating that Moscow has no right to refuse such a move. NATO’s leadership was supportive, but Ukraine said it needed to implement defense reforms first and tackle corruption.
Natalia Ginets and Matthias Williams
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