Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Ukraine “derailed” Russia’s attack plan on the third day of the invasion of his country and called on Russians to pressure President Vladimir Putin to stop the war.
“We have withstood and succeeded in repelling the enemy’s attacks,” Zelensky said in a video clip on Facebook, explaining that “the fighting continues in many towns and regions of the country, but it is our army that controls Kyiv and the main cities throughout the capital.”
“Every friend of Ukraine that wants to join us to defend the country, please come, we will give you weapons,” Zelensky said in the video. He also called on Ukrainians who fled the country’s borders to “return” to help defend the state.
This came as the Ukrainian army called on citizens to stop the Russian incursion into their country by all possible means. “Cut down trees, erect barricades, and burn tires! Use everything you have, the military said, adding that the manufacturing of so-called Molotov cocktails could also help.
“The occupiers must understand that they are not wanted here and that they will face resistance on every street… Let them be afraid even to look at our cities. Together to achieve victory! The occupiers will be destroyed,” the statement read.
Also on Saturday, Zelensky called on Germany and Hungary to “show courage” and support Russia’s exclusion from the Swift banking system to punish Moscow for invading his country.
“We already have almost complete support from EU countries to separate Russia from SWIFT. I hope Germany and Hungary will have the courage to support this decision. We have the courage to defend our homeland and defend Europe,” Zelensky added.
Zelensky’s speech came in a video released on Saturday from the streets of Kiev to respond to allegations that he accepted an American offer to evacuate.
Moreover, on Saturday, Al-Arabiya channel reported that the UK and US had agreed with 25 countries to provide Ukraine with more weapons in the face of the Russian invasion.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced $350m in new military aid to Ukraine.
Blinken said that the US security assistance to Ukraine over the past year amounted to more than $1bn. He added that the US stands with the people of Ukraine in defending their sovereign nation, explaining that the new package includes lethal defence aid to help Ukraine deal with threats.
Furthermore, the Dutch government announced that it will provide Ukraine with 200 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.
A joint statement issued by the Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence on Saturday said that Ukraine has requested additional military support and that it would be met.
The statement also said that some different military equipment, such as weapons, radar systems, and helmets were shipped today, and other equipment will be dispatched as soon as possible.
The Russian presidency said in a statement on Friday that Moscow will impose retaliatory sanctions on Western countries based on the principle of reciprocity.
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Western sanctions would cause damage to Russia but that the country would be able to contain their impact.
In his statements, Peskov stressed that Moscow has reduced its dependence on foreign imports, especially from the West.
Moscow is seeking during the current stage to expand trade with Asia in an attempt to contain European and American sanctions against it.
On how long the Russian offensive in Ukraine would take, Peksov declined to comment, saying that those questions should be referred to the military.
Russia is one of the world’s largest producers of the three most important commodities, wheat, oil, and gas.
Last Thursday, Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine that was followed by angry reactions from several countries in the world and calls for tougher sanctions against Moscow, while the latter says that it is defending its national security.
