While NATO is expanding and the war in Ukraine has been going on for 400 days, Russia has accused American journalists of espionage, Reuters writes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke on the evening of Thursday, the 30th of March, about the long way his country has come since the invasion of Russia on the 24th of February, 2002. Zelensky said: «Ukraine will win at the front … we will not leave a trace of Russia on our land, and we will not leave any enemy unpunished either. We are preparing news about this.» The president did not comment on what was to come, but it is known that Ukraine is actively preparing for a counterattack.
The Wall Street Journal has denied espionage charges against its reporter Evan Gershkovich and demanded his immediate release. The White House has condemned Russia’s actions and called on US citizens living or traveling in Russia to leave immediately.
White House press representative Karine Jean-Pierre said at the press conference: «These espionage charges are ridiculous.
The targeting of American citizens by the Russian government is unacceptable.»
The Russian security service has informed that 31-year-old Gershkovich was arrested in Yekaterinburg on suspicion of espionage for the US government. He was taken to Moscow, where he will be in pre-trial detention until the 29th of May. Under Russian law, espionage is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Experts from Western countries believe that Moscow could try to exchange the journalist for a Russian citizen imprisoned in the US or as leverage to settle diplomatic issues.
Meanwhile, NATO is one step closer to expanding the alliance. On the 30th of March, the Turkish parliament officially approved Finland’s membership in NATO. Each alliance country has separately provided significant military and financial support to Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: «Soon both Finland and Sweden will be (NATO) members, meaning that President Putin is getting the exact opposite of what he wanted.
He wanted less NATO. He is getting more NATO.»
Russia regularly accuses the West and NATO of direct involvement in the war in Ukraine. Moscow believes NATO’s military support makes the alliance’s weapons legitimate targets.
Ukraine has reported that the Russians are continuing their attacks in the vicinity of Bakhmut and Avdiivka.
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