Russia warns of provocations in Ukraine

MOSCOW: Russia does not rule out provocations against the self-proclaimed republics in Donbass,”especially on the part of independent actors” in Ukraine, Russia’s Foreign Ministry informed journalists on Monday amid Western rumors about an incoming Russian invasion.

When asked about Moscow’s plan to evacuate its citizens from the neighbouring country, Yuri Gorlach, the director of the Foreign Ministry, responded with a rhetorical question, “Do you understand how many Russian citizens there are in Ukraine?”

On Saturday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, announced that Russia had decided to ‘optimize’ its diplomatic presence in Ukraine “in light of possible of provocations by the Kiev regime or third countries.” She noted, however, that all consulates and the embassy would continue operating. She also dismissed the rumors of Western media about Russia evacuating its diplomats from Ukraine.

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The “optimization” followed decisions by multiple Western governments to dramatically scale down their diplomatic staff in Ukraine. Zakharova also commented on the evacuations, saying that the U.S. (United States) and UK (United Kingdom), which have “considerable way” over Kiev, are “apparently aware of some military actions being prepared in Ukraine that could dramatically complicate the situation in terms of security.”

According to Western media reports, Russia is all set to invade Ukraine, something that Russia has been denying constantly. Multiple media outlets have even alleged concrete dates on which Russia will presumably invade, officials in Washington said that they could not give a timeframe, claiming, though, that the strike could begin “any day.”

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Washington insists that the ball is in Moscow’s court and that Joe Biden has already warned Russia of ‘severe consequences’ in case it makes the ‘much-anticipated move.’

Following talks with the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in late January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the whole hysteria spurred by the West could be intended to serve as a smokescreen to cover Ukraine’s line on sabotaging  the Minsk agreement.

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