The Ukrainian Prime Minister on Friday charged Russia with aiming to occupy his country “militarily and politically,” and claimed Moscow wants to start a third World War.
Russian attempts to start conflict in Ukraine will lead to military conflict in Europe, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk warned.
His strong words come amid a sharp escalation in tensions.
Russia’s defense chief ordered new military drills Thursday near the border with eastern Ukraine, after Ukrainian forces said they killed five pro-Russian militants in an operation to clear roadblocks near the city of Slavyansk.
Meanwhile, top U.S. officials — including President Barack Obama — have vowed more punitive international actions targeting Russia’s economy if Moscow, in their view, continues to escalate the situation.
At a news conference in South Korea, Obama said Friday he would be talking to other European leaders about sanctions against Russia over Ukraine.
There will be targeted sanctions that are “ready to go,” he said, echoing comments he made Thursday in Japan.
“I think it’s important for us not to anticipate that the targeted sanctions that we’re applying now necessarily solve the problem,” he said, CNN informs.
