@BuzzFeedNews@Kiehart While many of Russia’s attempts to conduct false flag operations and spread incendiary (dis)information are bumbling and easily proven false, the reports could provide the pretext President Vladimir Putin is seeking to attack Ukraine. buzzfeednews.com/article/christ…
“We’re seeing old images misattributed, cut-and-dry fakes, and evidence that Russian proxies are staging attacks, not to mention reports of attacks that never took place,” disinfo buster @wiczipedia told me. buzzfeednews.com/article/christ…
.@wiczipedia: “All of this is meant to build the narrative that Ukrainian forces have decided on this moment—with the largest massing of forces Europe has seen since World War 2—to mount an assault. It’s an idea that utterly strains credulity.” buzzfeednews.com/article/christ…
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President Zelensky addressed Ukrainians after 2am local time. “We are not afraid. We won’t cede anything.” He said Putin withdrew from Minsk Agreements by ordering troops into Ukraine officially. He called for emergency meetings of OSCE, Normandy Format, UNSC.
Zelensky: “Important right now to see who our true friends are,” a nod to the West.
A senior US official tonight wouldn’t call Putin’s order an invasion since troops have unofficially been here 8 years. And it’s unclear if this will trigger the punishments West’s been preparing.
Zelensky: “We are committed to peace and diplomacy. We are on our land, we are not afraid of anyone or anything…and we will not give anything to anyone, and we are sure of that.”
“It’s not Feb 2014, but Feb 2022,” a reference to Ukraine’s weak army 8 yrs ago & stronger army now.
NEW: Vladimir Putin officially ordered Russian troops into eastern Ukraine Monday, threatening a large-scale military conflict that could put thousands of lives in danger.
Putin, using false and unproven reports as a justification, ordered Russian troops into Donetsk and Luhansk on what he calls a “peacekeeping mission.” It could put regular Russian troops in direct conflict with Ukrainian forces, raising prospect of a larger invasion of Ukraine.
Just after midnight on Tuesday, the Interfax news agency, citing eyewitnesses, reported two columns of armored military vehicles moving through the territory of the self-proclaimed Donetsk “people’s republic.” buzzfeednews.com/article/christ…
Wow. This extraordinary Russian Security Council meeting is absolutely bonkers and does give you the sense Putin’s lost his mind. Seems we’re close to Russia actually recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics” as independent and Moscow officially sending troops to help.
Also, recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk as independent here and officially helping militarily will mean the end of the Minsk agreements. The situation on the ground from there can change rapidly and significantly.
Dmitry Medvedev speaking now, says Donetsk and Luhansk "people's republics" are "territories that Ukraine does not need" and that Zelensky doesn't want to reintegrate because he would like to be reelected and the voters of Donetsk and Luhansk would not vote for him.
Ukrainian President Zelensky speaking now in Munich. He says Ukraine will defend itself with or without help, whether allies give helmets (Germany) or weapons (US, UK, etc).
Zelensky says "the security architecture in Europe is broken. It’s time for a new one."
He says of the current Russia threat, "This isn't about war in Ukraine. This is about war in Europe."
On NATO: "We are told the doors are open but that we are not allowed."
Zelensky says after years of dodging the question it's time for an answer as to whether Ukraine can be welcomed in NATO.
President Zelensky says he will still go to Munich today for the security conference but will return to Ukraine right after his appearance. His office told me yesterday he was considering staying put in Kyiv. Biden said it was Zelensky's decision but probably best to not go.
Here's the statement from Zelensky's office on the president's decision to go to the Munich Security Conference even as hostilities escalate in the Donbas and the threat of a Russian invasion increases dramatically. president.gov.ua/news/shodo-uch…
And here is Zelensky tweeting from Munich with Boris Johnson. He’s meant to fly back to Kyiv immediately after meetings.