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Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
Photo: POOL / REUTERS
According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, anything is possible in the conflict with Russia.
"We are literally in a situation where anything can happen," Kuleba said in an interview with CNN on Tuesday.
However, he cannot read the mind of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"If Russia is ready to act without ulterior motives, there is an opportunity to leave the negotiating room and say that we have reached an agreement," Kuleba continued.
Kuleba also said his country will not simply follow the direction of a major power in the conflict.
"We will not allow anyone to force us to make any concessions," he said.
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With a massive Russian troop deployment near Ukraine, there are fears in the West that the Kremlin may be planning an invasion of the neighboring country.
However, it is also considered possible that fears are only being stirred up in order to persuade the NATO states to make concessions when demands for new security guarantees are made.
Efforts to defuse the conflict have been going on for weeks in various talks.
US President Joe Biden again threatened Russia with “heavy consequences” and “economic sanctions”.
In the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, he personally believes that sanctions against Russia's head of state, Vladimir Putin, are possible.
"Yes, I could imagine that," said Biden in Washington on Tuesday when asked by a journalist.
US threatens retaliation against Belarus if it supports Russia
In addition, the US government threatened Belarus with retaliatory measures if it supported Russia in an invasion of Ukraine.
Washington has "made it clear to Belarus that there will be a swift and decisive response from the United States and our allies and partners" if it allows an attack on Ukraine from its territory, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said , on Tuesday before journalists in Washington.
"Should an invasion come from Belarus, should Russian troops be stationed permanently on its territory, then NATO could reconsider its own troop deployments in countries bordering Belarus," Price said.
Longtime Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko is an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He had violently suppressed mass protests against his controversial re-election.
Moscow had already started joint military maneuvers with Belarus about a week ago.
After the maneuvers were announced last month, the US warned of the possibility of Russian nuclear weapons being stationed in Belarus.
cop/dpa/AFP
