Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s adviser walked back the president’s statement that “February 16 will be the day of the attack” on Ukraine by Russia, on Monday night.
According to CNN, presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak said that Zelensky was not being literal when he said that the attack would be on Wednesday. He was reportedly being ironic.
According to Zelensky’s spokesperson Sergii Nykyforov, his statement was referring to dates already reported on by the press elsewhere.
“The president referred to a date that was spread by the media,” Nykyforov told NBC News.
Zelensky, who had a career as a comedian before becoming president, wrote that the Ukrainian government was “told” that Wednesday would be the day of the attack as he announced a new decree to establish a national day of unity, increase funding of military service people, accelerate the development of defenses and create an information system to apprise citizens of the security situation.
According to the document, the decree would serve “to strengthen the consolidation of Ukrainian society, strengthen its resilience in the face of growing hybrid threats, information and propaganda, moral and psychological pressure on the public consciousness.”
Several Western news organizations reported last week that Washington believed that was the date when Russian forces would be ready if Putin gives the order to invade.
Click here to read more.
Source: Jerusalem Post
BCNN1 WP 