The chances of Ukraine’s going to war with Russia are “growing,” Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Deshchytsia said on This Week this morning.
As Russian troops mobilize on the eastern border of Ukraine after having seized Crimea, Deshchytsia told Martha Raddatz that Ukraine is “ready to respond” should they move to invade. While emphasizing that Ukraine intends to use all peaceful and diplomatic means to dissuade Putin from further incursions, he said that “people are also ready to defend their homeland.”
“Militarily?” Raddatz asked. If Russian troops invade Ukraine, “It would be difficult to ask Ukrainians not to respond,” Deshchytsia said. Asked what he thought the chances of going to war with Russia are, he responded: “They are growing. We don’t know what Putin has in his mind and what would be his decision. That’s why this situation is becoming even more explosive than it used to be a week ago.”