The White House won’t say where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is as Russian forces target Kyiv amid concerns over his safety.
Russian forces entered Ukraine from multiple points Thursday, beginning an assault that U.S. defense officials said could “decapitate” the country’s government, seizing its capital and other cities. The Ukrainian leader has suggested that he is an assassination target.
UKRAINIANS’ LINING UP TO COLLECT GUNS’ AS RUSSIAN INVASION UNDERWAY
President Joe Biden’s press secretary said the United States is in touch with Zelensky but declined to comment on his safety amid the invasion.
“We’re not going to get into security questions, but we are in touch with President Zelensky, and we are working to provide him a range of support,” Jen Psaki told reporters.
The Biden administration had worried about Zelensky leaving the country ahead of the Munich Security Conference last weekend, concerned that his absence could provide an opening for Russia to attack. Zelensky instead waved off the concerns, delivering a blistering address to the conference before returning to Kyiv.
On Thursday, Psaki said Biden had not spoken to Zelensky since the two talked late the night before as Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would undertake a “special military operation” to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine and began his assault.
Zelensky revealed his approximate location late Thursday, telling Ukrainians that he remains in Kyiv with his central government. He warned that saboteur groups had entered the country and that he is their No. 1 target.
“They want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the head of state,” Zelensky said.
An elected official in Zelensky’s government, Yegor Cherniev, told the Washington Examiner before the address that he was with the Ukrainian leader in Kyiv. He also urged a more robust response from Washington.
“We expect REAL sanctions,” Cherniev said, such as removing Russia from the SWIFT bank-to-bank messaging system.
A U.S. defense official detailed to reporters the beginning phase of Russia’s invasion on three principal axes Thursday, from Belarus toward Kyiv, Russia toward Kharkiv, and from Crimea heading north.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Psaki, asked about a comment from Biden that Putin “wants to recreate the Soviet Union,” said the administration believes he is looking beyond the current target.
“We certainly think he has grander ambitions than Ukraine,” she said.
