Volker: Russia needs a pretext for aggression in Ukraine
Russia needs a pretext for aggression in Ukraine, US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker told TSN.Tyzhden in an interview.
According to Volker, the US used to think it was unlikely that Russia was set on aggression in Ukraine, but in the wake of the Kerch Strait incident, it will be necessary to reconsider the realistic probability that there may be new aggression from Russia.
“We must do everything we can to stop it from coming to this. We must do everything to prevent this aggression and hold it back,” the special representative said.
In addition, Volker expressed concern regarding Russia’s claims about Ukraine’s supposed provocation and use of chemical weapons.
“Such misinformation is concerning, because Russia needs a pretext for aggression. It would be nice to think that this is being done to divert attention away from the aggression against the Ukrainian ships in the Black Sea. But we must be extremely vigilant, we must monitor the situation, and, ideally, avoid further escalation and aggression,” Volker added.
As reported earlier, Trump canceled his meeting with Putin at the G20 summit due to Russia’s aggression towards the Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait. However, the two leaders did speak briefly at lunch. Later, US Security Advisor John Bolton said that no meeting between Putin and Trump can take place until Russia releases the Ukrainian sailors it captured in the Kerch Strait.