War of aggression against Ukraine: "We are the first in line"

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Destroyed vehicles and Russian tanks in Irpin, Ukraine: President Zelenskyj warns other countries

Photo: Laurel Choir / dpa

After a Russian general announced a change of strategy in warfare, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj warned: Ukraine is only the beginning, Russia wants to conquer more countries after that.

“All peoples who, like us, believe in the victory of life over death must fight with us.

You must help us because we are the first in line.

And who will be next?” said the President in his video speech on Saturday night.

The occasion was Russian statements on further war strategy.

According to a Russian general, Russia not only wants to take over the entire Donbass region in the east, but also the south of the country all the way to Transnistria - a part of Moldova controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

Here, too, one could identify a "repression of the Russian-speaking population."

The Kremlin uses the same reasoning to justify the attack on Ukraine.

Moldova's government worried

Moldova has dismissed statements by the Russian military that the country oppresses the Russian-speaking population.

Moldova's Foreign Ministry says the statements are unfounded.

"Moldova is a neutral state, and this principle must be respected by all international actors, including the Russian Federation." In the Republic of Moldova, there have long been fears that the Kremlin could allow its army to invade their country.

Now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador.

Zelenskyj further said that in Russia there is neither freedom of expression nor freedom of choice.

Poverty thrives and human life has no value there.

The statements from Russia also confirmed what he had already said several times: "That the Russian invasion of Ukraine should only be the beginning and after that they want to conquer other countries."

ani/dpa/Reuters