Moscow included the Ukrainian President on its wanted list, clarifying that the warrant for his arrest stems from an article of the criminal code.

The day after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin had called on the Ukrainian military to oust Zelensky.

The list of those wanted by the Russian authorities includes many Russians and foreigners, mainly Ukrainians. In February, the names of Estonian Prime Minister, Kaya Kalas, Lithuania’s Culture Minister, and former Latvian MPs were added to it for destroying Soviet-era monuments.

An arrest warrant has also been issued against the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court who last year issued a warrant for Vladimir Putin, accusing him of war crimes.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, described NATO’s four-month-long “Steadfast Defender” military exercise near the Russian border as evidence that the North Atlantic Alliance is preparing for a possible conflict with Russia.

Zakharova rejected accusations made by NATO this week that Moscow was involved in hybrid attacks on its member states, saying it was misleading disinformation aimed at distracting attention from its own activities.

In her statement she says that instead, NATO is waging a hybrid war with Russia because it supports Ukraine with weapons, intelligence, and financial resources.

Russia’s relations with the West have never been worse in decades, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ninety thousand (90,000) soldiers are participating in the NATO exercise that started in January and will end in late May.

It looks at how US Forces could bolster their European allies in countries bordering Russia and on the alliance’s eastern flank in the event of war.

Source: Euronews

Also read: Ukraine | Zelensky dismisses Armed Forces Chief

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