“If escalation goes up … We have to be ready to defend our independence and integrity of our country — and civil defense also have [sic] to be prepared,” Klitschko advised CNN’s Lynda Kinkade on “Connect the World” Wednesday.
“We hope this never happens, this [is] worst case, but we have to be prepared,” the former world heavyweight champion added.
Klitschko mentioned he’s “worried” about Russian army forces on the border however says it’s a risk that what’s being witnessed is merely a matter of optics, calling Russian techniques a “muscle game.”
Moscow is demanding safety ensures from the US and NATO, together with a binding pledge that NATO will not develop farther east and won’t enable Ukraine to affix the army alliance — one thing NATO is unwilling to do.
During Wednesday’s roughly four-hour assembly — which went on longer than scheduled — Sherman mentioned that the US and its NATO allies made clear that Russia’s demand Ukraine by no means be permitted to affix NATO was a non-starter.
The talks with the NATO-Russia Council is the second of three units of conferences this week. They are sandwiched between Monday’s US-Russia talks and Thursday’s assembly between Russa and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Klitschko criticized the talks in Switzerland and Belgium for not together with Ukraine at a excessive stage and referred to as it a “geo-political” recreation.
“Everybody is talking about Ukraine, without Ukraine,” Klitschko mentioned.
Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Grushko mentioned after Wednesday’s session that NATO’s habits is creating unacceptable dangers for Russia. Klitschko described Grushko’s feedback as a “political game.”
“Without weapons delivering to this region, without financial support, without propaganda, this conflict will never, ever happen. Everything happens under control of [the] Russian Federation,” the former boxer mentioned.
Sherman referred to as it “hard to understand” how Russia might really feel threatened by Ukraine when it has the most important standard army in Europe.
‘Democratic European nation’
“In 2014 Ukraine decided to take a European direction of development of our country. It is not [the] Russian Federation and Mr. Putin is not happy with this decision because his idea [is] to rebuild [the] Soviet Empire,” mentioned Klitschko, referring to the Russian President.
“We don’t want to be back to [the] USSR. We see our future as [a] democratic European country.”
Known as Dr. Ironfist when he boxed because of his doctorate in sport science, Klitschko stands at an imposing 6 ft, 7½ inches.
Klitschko is serving his second time period on the helm of Kiev.
