Ukraine: Russia’s stance on NATO discussed by Stewart
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have reached boiling point over recent months. In September, President Zelenskiy warned an all-out war with Russia could be a “possibility”. Since 2014, more than 14,000 people have been killed in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Over the weekend, around 200 military vehicles were spotted in Shebekino, Russia, near Ukraine’s Kharkiv Oblast.
Thousands of civilians have been evacuated after explosions shook eastern Ukraine on Saturday night.
Kiev confirmed two of its soldiers had died in the attack marking the first fatalities in the conflict for more than a month.
But a British expat said he was part of a small community ready to help armed resistance volunteers.
Vladimir Putin (Image: Getty)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Image: Getty)
He vowed to “fight like devils” in the event of an invasion.
He told the BBC: “We are here, we are ready to fight and we will fight like devils, I tell you.
“There is a small expat community here but we will join with our Ukrainian partners, our Ukrainian friends and Ukrainian family.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on his Russian counterpart to meet him for talks amid the escalating crisis.
READ MORE: Boris vows to cut off Russian cash flow if Putin invades Ukraine
Explosions shook eastern Ukraine (Image: Getty)
Mr Zelenskyy said: “I don’t know what the president of the Russian Federation wants but that Ukraine would continue to follow only the diplomatic path.”
Last week, concerns of a war between Moscow and Kiev were raised after Russian units left their assembly areas.
Some long-range artillery and rocket launchers have also been moved into firing positions.
The official said that satellite images showed the troops movements.
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Russia v Ukraine (Image: Express)
This comes as Mr Biden and NATO allies warned any Russian invasion of Ukraine would bring “swift and severe costs”.
Russia has denied planning to invade Ukraine but has tens of thousands of troops near its neighbour’s borders.
US officials believe Russia could launch an invasion of Ukraine this week, though there remains some hope that a diplomatic solution could be reached.
Russia has surrounded Ukraine on three sides, with more than 100,000 troops amassed at the border, but has always denied that an invasion is planned.
US President Joe Biden (Image: Getty)
Dr Paul Flenley, who is a senior lecturer in politics at the University of Portsmouth and an expert in Russian foreign policy, told Express.co.uk that the consequences of any invasion would be “enormous”.
He said: “I think the Russian population has not been prepared for an invasion of Ukraine and the consequences.
“Psychologically, the consequences would be enormous.
“It wouldn’t fit well with the whole rhetoric of Ukrainians as our brothers, and they should be part of a wider association.
Ukrainians prepare for Russia invasion (Image: Getty)
“An invasion of Ukraine and taking Kiev would just be a disaster for all that ideology that Putin has.”
After World War 2, the western part of Ukraine merged with the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, making the whole country a part of the Soviet Union.
It regained its independence in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Many Russians, including Mr Putin and other figures within the Kremlin, still consider Ukraine a part of Russia.