Zelenskiy urges strong int'l response to Putin, says Krelmin not interested in peace
- 21 November, 21:00
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has urged the international community to respond to Russia’s use of experimental ballistic missiles into his country, saying that the move proves that Kremlin is not interested in peace.
“Today, Putin admitted to taking a second step this year toward escalating and expanding this war. A new ballistic missile was used. Putin struck our city of Dnipro, one of Ukraine’s largest cities,” Zelensky said.
He described the fresh attack as a clear and severe escalation of the war, a violation of the UN Charter.
“Let me emphasize: This is already Russia’s second step toward escalation this year. The first was involving North Korea in the war against Ukraine with a contingent of at least 11,000 soldiers,” the Ukrainian leader went on saying. His comments came hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that his forces fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into Ukraine earlier today, which was the first use of this weapon in any conflict. During an unannounced televised address, Putin explained that the use of ballistic missile was in response to Ukraine firing Western-made ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles into Russian territory this week.
Putin’s statement generated prompt response in the United States, with the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stating that “the escalation at every turn is coming from Russia”. Russia fired intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine’s central-eastern Dnipro city in the early hours of Thursday. There have been no reports about casualties yet.
