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Ukrainian counterattacks have hampered the advance of Russian troops overnight as Kiev makes calls for foreign aid, following statements that Moscow is expanding its war goals.
In a recent video message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the states for sending weapons to help defend Ukraine, but after claims by Ukraine’s General Staff that Russian forces had stepped up attacks across the east, he had and a warning.
“In the region of Donbas, Azov, Mariupol and Kherson, the fate of this war and the future of our state is being decided. But Vladimir Putin has other territorial goals in the region besides those to occupy eastern and southern Ukraine. Other countries should help us because we are first in line. The question is who will be the next one? ” said Zelensky.
The acting head of Russia’s Central Military District, Rustam Minnekayev, was quoted a day earlier as saying that full control of southern Ukraine was a strategic goal to enable access to Moldova’s pro-Russian region, Transnistria.
His comments provide a more detailed description of Russia’s intentions in the second phase of its occupation of Ukraine, and have been cited by Kiev as a sign that the Kremlin has lied in its initial statements when it said Moscow has no territorial ambitions.
Kiev has also mentioned that the Transnistrian region could be used to organize Russian operations against Ukraine and Moldova, which shares a border with NATO member state Romania.
The news sparked panic in Moldova, whose foreign ministry urgently called on the Russian ambassador to express “her deep concern”.
“Moldova is a neutral state and this principle must be respected by all international actors, including the Russian Federation.” it is stated in its statement.
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