New Delhi: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vehemently refuted a Russian claim that his country was developing chemical and biological weapons.
In a video posted Friday, Zelenskyy said: “I am the President of an adequate country, an adequate nation. And the father of two children. And no chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction were developed on my land.”
Zelenskyy warned Russia that the use of biological weapons against his country would invite the “most severe sanctions”.
Zelenskyy said Moscow’s accusation that Ukraine was developing biological weapons had “really worried” him.
He said: “We’ve been repeatedly convinced: If you want to know Russia’s plans, look at what Russia accuses others of.”
“We are accused of attacks on allegedly peaceful Russia. And now what?… What else have you prepared for us? Where will you strike with chemical weapons?” Zelensky asked, addressing Russia.
Russia has requested the United Nations to hold a meeting Friday on its claim that Ukraine was developing chemical weapons.
Zelenskyy has said that more than 100,000 people have been evacuated through humanitarian corridors in the past two days.
In his video address, Zelenskyy said: “One of the main tasks for us today was the organization of humanitarian corridors… Sumy, Trostyanets, Krasnopillya, Irpin, Bucha, Hostomel, Izium. Almost 40,000 people have already been evacuated this day. They were given safety at last. In Poltava, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Lviv.”
“We are doing everything to save our people in the cities that the enemy just wants to destroy,” Zelensky added.
US President Joe Biden may announce Friday that the “most favoured nation” status for Russia would be revoked, meaning trade relations with the country would cease.
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