“It’s time to increase the pressure on Moscow,” the Ukrainian minister said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Thursday urged NATO allies to increase pressure on Russia as Kiev’s Western partners seek to deal with the growing threat posed by Moscow.
“Russia still poses an existential threat to Europe,” Sibiha said in consultations at the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Brussels.
Although Ukraine has agreed to a U.S. proposal for an unconditional ceasefire, Russian President Vladimir Putin “talks about demand and conditions,” he spoke with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
“Russia must take peace seriously,” he added. “For this, it’s time to increase the pressure on Moscow.”
Russia said it had agreed to a limited ceasefire from U.S. brokers to block a joint attack on energy facilities, but both sides accused each other of violating the agreement. So far, Moscow has opposed an unconditional ceasefire.
Putin called 160,000 young people to serve in the military on Monday.
Given Russia’s military accumulation, Sibiha said the problem is not intended to attack other parts of Europe as well: “The question is just, will we be prepared?”
“This is a historic and decisive moment for the future of Ukraine and Europe,” he said.
