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Ukrainian government websites were splashed with a warning to “be afraid and expect the worst” as a massive cyberattack hit the country, while a U.S. official voiced fears that Russia was preparing to attack its neighbour if diplomacy failed.
The cyberattack unfolded hours after talks wrapped up on Thursday with no breakthrough between Moscow and Western allies. On Friday, Russia, which has massed 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s border, released pictures of more of its forces on the move.
Kyiv said President Volodymyr Zelensky had proposed a three-way meeting with the leaders of Russia and the United States. Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said the “life and death” of his country hung in the balance.
A U.S. official said Washington was concerned that Russia was preparing for the possibility of a new military assault on a country it invaded in 2014.
“As part of its plans, Russia is laying the groundwork to have the option of fabricating a pretext for invasion, including through sabotage activities and information operations, by accusing Ukraine of preparing an imminent attack against Russian forces in eastern Ukraine,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later dismissed such reports as based on “unfounded” information, TASS news agency reported.
Russia denies plans to attack Ukraine but says it could take unspecified military action unless its demands – including a promise by the NATO alliance never to admit Kyiv – are met.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia hoped security talks with the United States would resume but that this would depend on Washington’s response to Moscow’s proposals.
“We categorically will not accept the appearance of NATO right on our borders, especially so given the current course of the Ukrainian…
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Source : france24
