United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has said that the call by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin to mobilize citizens to fight in Ukraine, reflects Kremlin’s struggles on the battlefield, the unpopularity of the war and Russians’ unwillingness to fight in it.
Blinken disclosed this in a statement released while responding to the Russian President’s announcement, adding that Putin is not operating from a position of strength; rather, this is another sign of his failing mission.
Secretary of State said, “We have every confidence that the people of Ukraine will continue to demonstrate resolve and bravery on the battlefield in support of their sovereignty and independence.
He noted that United States, its allies and partners in the international community condemn Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine, and will not hesitate to continue to stand with Ukraine and its people.
“Together, we have provided Ukraine consistent, significant support for its defense, and we will continue that steadfast support for the Ukrainian people for as long as it takes”, Blinken added.
Recently, reports has it that Russian troops have surrendered en masse in face of rapid Ukrainian counter- attack that continue to gain ground, leading to some hope that a turning point in the war has finally been reached.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called for partial mobilization of Russian citizens, a move that led to protests in parts of the country, in which over 1,200 arrests have been made so far.
Putin’s announcement is considered a deeply unpopular move. The risky order follows humiliating setbacks for Putin’s troops nearly seven months after they invaded Ukraine.
The first such call-up in Russia since World War II heightened tensions with Ukraine’s Western backers, who derided it as an act of weakness and desperation.
After Putin’s order, Russians went scrambling to buy plane tickets to flee the country. Visuals released on social media showcased protesters out on the streets, chanting “no to war”.
Videos from the protest areas show cops trying to keep a mob at Isakiivskiy Cathedral behind barriers, amid slogans of no mobilisation according to report.
It has been seven months since Russia’s President Putin’s February invasion of Ukraine, and the war’s terrible toll continues to mount.
Thousands of civilians killed or wounded, 13 million Ukrainian civilians forced to flee their homes, historic cities pounded to rubble, horrifying reports of ongoing atrocities, nuclear power stations put at risk, food shortages, skyrocketing food prices around the world.